Port Chester Man Accused of Putting Sugar Into Car's Gas Tank

A Port Chester man has been charged with criminal mischief in connection with a January incident in which sugar was poured into a gas tank to damage a car on Willett Avenue in Port Chester, according to Port Chester Police.

Lt. James Ladeairous said information from a witness to the Jan. 25 incident led to the arrest of Amilca Aguilar, 48, of Port Chester, on Thursday, Feb. 14. Ladeairous said police are uncertain why sugar was poured into the gas tank of a 2003 Toyota Camry owned by a village resident.

The incident caused about $250 damage to car. The owner of the car, Ladeairous said, had a suspicion that his gas tank was tampered with on Jan. 25 when he spotted the fuel door of his car was open. The owner saw a white power, later identified as sugar, on the fuel door.

Aguilar is charged with third-degree criminal mischief, a felony, and faces a hearing in Port Chester Village Court.

So, what about the impact of sugar poured into a gas tank? It can clog fuel filters and fuel injectors. However, despite popular wisdom that it can kill a car's engine, experts say that's generally not the case.