TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida officials arrested four men this week, accusing them of using a device on gas pumps that allowed them to pump fuel for pennies on the dollar.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services made the arrests on Wednesday. Commissioner Nikki Fried said she takes these types of crimes seriously.

“Anytime that we’re seeing a theft like this or actual fraud, we have zero tolerance,” Fried said. “And we’re going to come in and it’s a very clear symbol to anyone that may be thinking of doing something like this — we’re going to catch you. “

The alleged incidents happened at a Circle K gas station in Lutz and a Circle K station in Lakeland. At the Lutz location, officers arrested Marlon Rosel-Rodriguez and Yordan Diaz Benitez of Tampa. They arrested Yulier Garcia-Martinez and Rogelio Llarena of Orlando at the Lakeland location.

Ned Bowman, the Florida Petroleum Marketers Association president, said the suspects were running a pretty sophisticated operation.

“They go in and they change the pulsator. The pulsator is the device that is inside the gas pump that regulates the flow of the fuel,” Bowman explained. “So they’re able to change the price of the fuel down to a nickel or a penny to the gallon and fill the back of their trucks up — their bladders or spare tanks — with fuel that’s basically free.”

Bowman said the small, independent gas stations could really suffer due to this type of crime.

“Somebody pumps gas at 5 cents a gallon, or diesel fuel at 5 cents a gallon, and you’re paying $4.50 or $5 a gallon for it — it hits your bottom line pretty quick,” Bowman said.