THURMAN, N.Y. (AP) -- An alleged gasoline thief who used a lighter to check his progress in the dark ended up getting burned.
Glen B. Germain Jr., 19, of Warrensburg set his goatee, hands and a nearby forklift on fire after using a lighter during the theft, according to the Warren County Sheriff's Department.
Germain was charged with petit larceny and fourth-degree criminal mischief in the May 4 fire, deputies said.
The investigation began when firefighters were called to the 4 a.m. blaze. Investigators determined the fire began near the gas tank of a nearby dump truck and spread to a forklift.
Germain was questioned after leads pointed to him, including the fact the Sheriff's Department had arrested him in a nearby gas theft days earlier, Sheriff's Investigator Kibby French told The Post-Star of Glens Falls.
Germain admitted he was responsible for the fire, telling investigators he accidentally set gasoline on fire when trying to see how he was progressing, according to authorities.
''He panicked and couldn't put out the fire so he fled the scene,'' French said.
Germain did not seek treatment for his injuries, French said.
The arrest was Germain's second in a month for stealing gasoline from businesses in Thurman, French said. Days before the fire, Germain was arrested on a petit larceny charge when he was caught trying to steal gas from Daggett Lake Campground.
