Thursday, May 29, 2008

Gas Thieves

Confessions of a former teen
O.K. I admit it 30+ years ago I may have stolen a little gas now and then. We siphoned a little here and a little there...nothing serious. Gas was over sixty cents a gallon and I was only working part-time with school and all. We needed the petrol to go crusin'...everybody in small town America was doing it. I still can't stand the taste of gas and am not too crazy about the smell. Young and dumb...I guess so!
Do I need a locking gas cap?
I asked myself this question the other day as I just finished putting $76 worth of fuel in my truck. Thinking that would stop those darn teens from getting MY gas! That is until I heard that gas bandits are now cutting fuel line hoses or drilling a hole in the victim's gas tank. Be smart about where you park.

Keep an eye on the pump
Do you fill your vehicle with a credit or debit card, like I do? You know, swipe the card, start the pump at a QuickTrip or Kum and Go and then walk inside the store for a coke or cup of coffee (with the pump running)? BAD IDEA!!!

Apparently, there have been some crafty indiduvals hanging out at larger convenience stores. They see a customer start a pump and go inside...that is when they spring into action with their 5 gallon gas can. They pull the nozzle out of your tank and fill their can on your nickle, while you are busy using the restroom or standing in line. Then they put the gas in their vehicle and wait for their next victim. Be aware of your surroundings and if you see suspicious activity...report it!

Theft from vendors was done in 2006
In 2005, $300 million of gasoline was stolen nationally from gasoline vendors, according to the Association for Convenience and Petroleum Retailing. However only $122 million worth of gas was stolen from vendors in 2006 due to the pre-payment requirement. Some of the gas thieves removed their license plate while others stole plates off other cars and then stole gas with the stolen plate.
Construction sites and fleet companies are the new targets
About $14,000 of diesel and more than $70,000 of construction equipment was stolen from three contractors during meticulously planned thefts on Saturday and Monday nights, authorities said.
The heist began when a water truck was broken into and hot-wired at the construction site Saturday night. The truck's 4,000-gallon water tank was emptied and filled with more than 2,000 gallons of diesel from a storage tank on the site, Oklahoma County sheriff's deputy Cody Palmer said.

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