Gasoline and Diesel Thefts Thread

joe1347 · Heavy Crude Joined: Sep 05, 2005 Posts: 153

Yep. Cleaned out my garage this weekend so that I don't have to park my car outside primarily out of fear of vandalism. I drive a Prius.
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IgnoranceIsBliss · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread

Someone stole the gas out of our U-Haul moving truck the night before we left the Orlando, FL area to move out of state. This was back in June 2006 when prices were a lot lower. The truck was parked in the driveway of the house. My guess is it was someone who watched us load the trucks and then saw us drive our car to a motel that night. We had the truck backed right up against the garage door, so no one could get into the back of it to take our furniture.

I haven't seen any gas stations that still allow people to pay cash after pumping. They all have little homemade signs that say "Due to high number of driveoffs, pay inside first" or something like that.

Twilight · Expert Joined: Mar 02, 2007 Posts: 3076 Location: UK

Byron100 · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 5:25 pm Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread

JJ · Heavy Crude Joined: Aug 07, 2007 Posts: 402

ColossalContrarian · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jun 20, 2006 Posts: 687

As others have pointed out, paying after fueling is of times past… so now we have pay at the pump scams where people put the sale on their credit card but attach a device to trick the pump into not knowing how much it’s pumping. The only way to get around this would be having someone pump the fuel for customers like they have in Oregon –for safety reasons of course Smile

In my neighborhood I know of two gas stations that close at night but the pumps still work for debit and CC.

Drilling the tank as some have mentioned sounds concerning. Its one thing to steal someone’s gas but to Fark up their car is another story...

Can anyone comment on the impact of gas theft during the 70’s?

Was it common and where?

Suburbs/urban, rural?

jdmartin · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 11:18 am Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread

It was somewhat common mostly because it was easy, gas tanks were huge and cars got 8 mpg. A length of hose and 5 cents of knowledge on how to get a siphon started, and you could drain a guy's gas tank in a few minutes. When gas was $1.30, equivalent to maybe $3 right now, that was serious money, especially with 11% unemployment and 17% interest rates. The locking gas caps came along right at the point that they were largely unnecessary.

As for drilling the gas tank, it depends on the car. On a big truck you can slide yourself, your drill and a container underneath, and as long as there's no shield over the tank you can drill it & drain it pretty fast, and there's a lot of gas to get. On a smaller car it makes no sense, because the tank is small, and you'd need to get the car in the air to even have enough room to drill & drain for not much reward. Thus, I wouldn't worry about it too much if you're driving something small & compact.
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After fueling up their cars, Twyman says they bowed their heads and asked God for cheaper gas.There was no immediate answer, but he says other motorists joined in and the service station owner didn't run them off.

Blacksmith · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread

Could you share how you can trick a pump, or drillout a tank without going boom.

He blows up real good.
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lawnchair · Intermediate Crude Joined: Oct 20, 2004 Posts: 789

Hoops_Mckann · Coal Joined: Nov 15, 2007 Posts: 15

Here is a bit of irony for all:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080527/ap_on_bi_ge/punctured_gas_tanks

Hope there is not another thread about it. Seems as though the SUVs and Pickups that use the most fuel and require the most fuel to fill up are the primary targets.

TWilliam · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Nov 28, 2004 Posts: 1750

buzzard · Heavy Crude Joined: May 31, 2004 Posts: 105

Blacksmith · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 2:13 am Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread

I remember years ago a Canadian Tire Store in Ottawa, that burnt to the ground when a mechanic cut a muffler off with a cutting torch.
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ColossalContrarian · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jun 20, 2006 Posts: 687

Gas theft news on CNN today, from drilling holes to stealing cooking oil from restaurants which is also mentioned in the article Hoops_McKann posted.

Hoops_Mckann · Coal Joined: Nov 15, 2007 Posts: 15