The theft was discovered the next day when a tanker driver noticed the dipstick missing and the station owner viewed the CCTV footage and saw Lovett's vehicle.
The tanker was unable to unload fuel until a technician had made a replacement dipstick and re-checked the tank, which meant a new delivery and a total cost of more than $5000, with an insurance excess of $1000.
Theft number 2
On August 25 at about 9pm, Lovett had driven to Martinborough BP service station in the same Estima.
The vehicle's rear seats had been removed to make room for five 200 litre plastic drums.
He lifted the lid on the underground petrol tank and used the rubber pipe and electric fuel pump to extract more than 1000 litres of petrol into the containers. This fuel cost more than $2000.
The theft was discovered the next day and the Estima identified by CCTV footage. At his arrest all but 100 litres of fuel had been disposed of, with Lovett saying he had sold it for $1 a litre.
Theft number 3
On August 28 at about 10pm, Lovett had driven to Caltex Fitzherbert Street in Palmerston North and parked next to a fuel pump and got out of the vehicle. He returned to fill it with $40 of diesel which had been prepaid.
Afterward Lovett drove around the corner and manoeuvred several times to park it directly on top of the lid to the underground fuel tank, which was out of the sight of the service station attendant.
Lovett lifted the lid and placed the length of rubber pipe and electric pump into the tank.
Over the next 40 minutes, Lovett pumped more than 1000 litres of petrol, costing more than $1800, into the five 200 litre plastic drums.
CCTV footage identified the vehicle.
Judge Chris Tuohy remanded Lovett, who also faces further charges, until October 15 for sentence.
A co-accused has pleaded not guilty to at least one of the charges and was remanded until November 23 for a case review hearing.
