Surveillance video shows a truck and horse trailer used by thieves to siphon fuel at a gas station in Riverside, authorities said. (Credit: Riverside Police Department)

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A pair of thieves used an innovative method to steal about 500 gallons of fuel at a gas station in Riverside, police said Thursday.

The theft occurred about 4:45 a.m. July 22 at Weis Fuel, located at 9407 Magnolia Ave., according to the Riverside Police Department.

A newer, white four-door Ford F-150 Supercrew pickup truck was towing a dark-colored horse trailer when it drove onto the gas-station property, the department said. Surveillance video shows the vehicles coming to a stop, with the trailer over a tank-filling hole in the ground.

“It appears the trailer is equipped with a false floor and interior pumping system,” which was used to siphon the gas out of the underground tank, a police statement said.

A witness described the thieves as possibly being a white woman and white man, and said that the trailer had “some sort of ‘alien’ sticker on its exterior,” the statement said. Authorities released screen shots of the pair and the vehicles which were which were recorded by the businesses's cameras.

"It's sick — makes me feel so mad," said Jacob Weis, whose family owns the gas station. The thieves "don't know how much it will cause damage to the people who bought the gas themselves with their hard-earned money," he said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Carl Turner by phone at 951-353-7954, or email at CTurner@riversideca.gov.