Texas Senator Takes Aim at Thieves Amid Rise in Oilfield Related Crimes

ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)— Before Texas' legislature comes to an end, one Midland law maker is putting oil field theft in the spotlight. Senator Kevin Sparks recently announced that his final legislative priority package would address the theft of petroleum products, as well as oil and gas equipment.

It’s a real problem in the Permian Basin, as seen this month when someone tried to steal petroleum products in Reeves County and caused a tank battery explosion. It’s a problem that Sparks hopes to tackle head-on with three pieces of legislation. 

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One of those would establish a statewide law enforcement task force. That’s something the Ector County Sheriff’s Office is already running at the local level. Sheriff Mike Griffis said partnering with federal agencies helps law enforcement keep criminals behind bars longer.

“We deal with a lot of oil field thefts. We try to use some federal resources when we can and even federal prosecution when we can because the federal prison system will keep them in prison longer than the Texas prison system will and we enjoy them not coming back to our community and committing other crimes. We don’t like recidivism, but we’ve made some headway,” Griffis said. 

While the pay day for thieves can be large, law makers know the local oil and gas operators have been hurt in the process. Griffis said millions in oil field equipment was stolen last year and they’ve only seen cases continue to rise in 2025.

“We seized over a million dollars of oilfield equipment, skid-steers, backhoes, tractor-trailers from an individual — a million dollars’ worth of stuff,” Griffis said.

Here’s a closer look at the legislation introduced by Sparks:

SB 494 — Industry & Law Enforcement Task Force: Forms a statewide task force to examine the impact of organized oilfield theft and provide recommendations to address these ongoing challenges and enhance coordination between energy stakeholders and law enforcement agencies. 

SB 1320 — Organized Oilfield Theft Prevention Unit: Specialized Department of Public Safety (DPS) unit that will target criminal organizations profiting from the oil and gas industry, particularly in the Permian Basin. 

SB 1806 — Energy Resources Theft Reform: Authorizes trained law enforcement officers to inspect cargo tanks transporting petroleum products on public roads or railroads, collect samples for forensic analysis, enhances penalties for unlawful appropriation of petroleum products and equipment, and establishes criminal penalties for operating disposal wells without a permit. 

“Protecting our energy resources is essential to the Permian Basin and the state as a whole,” stated Sparks. “Oilfield theft has been a persistent problem throughout Texas, impacting the state for years, and it’s time we take a collaborative approach to fighting organized criminal activity through the establishment of an industry task force, DPS prevention unit, and increasing penalties to deter these crimes and strengthen prosecution efforts.”