Thieves trying to steal heating oil from a tank at a church in the 5100 block of Nansemond Parkway caused about 500 gallons of the fuel to spill onto the ground.

Apostolic Assembly called reported the spill just after 6 p.m. Wednesday. The oil was running into a nearby swamp and stream that leads to Bennett’s Creek.

Firefighters plugged the spill to keep it from spreading further, and the property owner contacted a hazmat company to clean it up. The investigation is ongoing.