MILFORD – A fuel truck stolen from Milford late Tuesday night or early Wednesday was found in Carmel, drained of 2,000 gallons of heating oil and kerosene and the keys still in the ignition.

The truck from Malenfant’s Fuel & Bottled Gas Co. was found about 3:45 a.m. Wednesday on the Irish Road, near its intersection with the Fuller Road by a passer-by who called police.

All the fuel, the 1,650 gallons of No. 2 heating oil and 350 gallons of kerosene, had been removed from the truck, Penobscot County Sheriff’s Deputy Will Sheehan said late Wednesday night. The fuel was valued at about $3,000.

The fuel truck was stolen from the Milford business sometime after 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sheehan said. The keys had been left inside the cab of the truck and when contacted by a Penobscot Regional Communications Center dispatcher, the owner thought the truck was still in the driveway. He was surprised that it was not, officials said.

The truck was processed for evidence. The interior of the cab was dusted for fingerprints, Sheehan said.

As part of the investigation, authorities are asking anyone who may have seen the Malenfant’s truck during the time it was missing or who may know something about the theft to contact the Sheriff’s Department at 945-4585 and ask for Detective John Trask.