Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 10:27 am Post subject: Gasoline and Diesel Thefts Thread
Well it’s bound to happen. I remember being in high school riding with a friend to a varsity football game. He pulled his Camero up to the pump, said "don’t move I’ll be right back", started filling his car with gas and shortly after we took off. That was my first (and last) experience with what’s commonly referred to as “gas and go”. This was about 13 years ago…
It’s time for a gasoline theft thread as I’m sure we’ll be seeing much more of this behavior.
Let me know if we already have a thread dedicated to this topic.
Last edited by ColossalContrarian on Sat May 24, 2008 7:02 pm; edited 1 time in total
At a time when many motorists are feeling robbed at the gas pumps, King County sheriff's detectives say a felon managed to steal nearly 20,000 gallons of gasoline from unsuspecting service stations between Bellingham and Oregon.
Quote:
Urquhart said Torres is believed to have tampered with at least 15 gas pumps along the Interstate 5 corridor — allowing him to fill several 55-gallon drums for free. Most of the victims weren't aware of the theft until much later.
"Part of the problem with this crime is the victims don't know they have lost the gasoline until they start reconciling their inventory," he said.
Detectives have identified gas stations that may have been targeted, but they're still unsure how many were hit, Urquhart said.
Detectives are also searching for people they say purchased fuel from Torres; they, too, could face felony charges.
Torres was seen on surveillance video stealing more than 1,000 gallons of diesel and premium-unleaded fuel at three gas stations between Feb. 12 and 14, according to a King County Sheriff's Office report. The thefts were made using a method investigators wouldn't divulge.
On March 13, Torres was spotted on surveillance video stealing gas in Gig Harbor, the report said.
Joined: May 18, 2006 Posts: 3965 Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 10:33 am Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread
A neice of mine worked at a gas station in the Burbs ($500,000+ homes). She said most drive-aways where newer SUV's with fancy dressed occupants. Go figure.
Reminds me of my old tax man who had rental property. He said ppl dressed to the hilt driving fancy cars where usualy the worst rental risk.
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 10:39 am Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread
Just had a conversation with my husband about not filling our tanks anymore because we park outdoors, live in a small college town and live half a block from a highway.
It's inevitable that gas siphoning will become commonplace with rising pump prices. Our vehicles are sitting vessels of opportunity.
cynthia
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 10:43 am Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread
Unfortunately I too park my car on the street. Decent neighborhood but I’ve been suspicious that past couple weeks. My work pays for gas but still. I don’t want anyone messing with my car. There doesn’t seem to be any sign of someone prying the cover but I’m going to consider one of these…
There have been a couple mornings when my tank was so low the little electronic deal was blinking that I had ZERO miles till I was out of gas, I never let it go that low (usually fillup when it says I have 100 miles left, ¼ tank)
btw vision-master, I’m concerned about my neighbors who have a Hummer H2 AND Lexus SUV –the big one. Parked out front. I can't imagine how they fill those beasts up!!!
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 10:57 am Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread
My car (Honda) has a locking door over the gas cap. Can only be unlocked from the inside of the driver's compartment. However, last year I decided to add a locking gas cap also, just to make it more difficult to access. The problem is that thieves by-pass the whole mess and simply drill a small hole in the bottom of the gas tank and drain the gas out into a low container and they're gone. Now the question becomes, 'do I make it easy for them and save my gas tank or count on it being difficult enough to steal my gas that they quit?'
I fear that these kinds of issues will be front and center in the near future. Just the vicissitudes of life in our brave new world. _________________ "I've been dazed and confused for so long it's not true."
Led Zeppelin
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 11:40 am Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread
These days it is very difficult to siphon gas due to the design of the fill tube. So I believe that punching the gas tank will be how most gas is stolen in the future!! _________________ I'd rather get my brains blown out in the wild than wait in terror at the slaughterhouse.
Craig Volk, Northern Exposure, A-Hunting We Will Go, 1991
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 12:36 pm Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread
Quote:
Urquhart said Torres is believed to have tampered with at least 15 gas pumps along the Interstate 5 corridor — allowing him to fill several 55-gallon drums for free. Most of the victims weren't aware of the theft until much later.
Ummm... what I want to know is, how the hell does someone sit at a gas station and fill a 55 gallon drum, and no one happens to notice that it isn't paid for before he leaves? _________________ "It means buckle your seatbelt, Dorothy, because Kansas? Is goin' bye-bye... "
Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 1194 Location: England
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread
They have a trapdoor in the bottom of the van, and drill a hole through the tank access hatch fitted in the ground below them. _________________ Technology will save us!
Joined: May 18, 2006 Posts: 3965 Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread
TWilliam wrote:
Quote:
Urquhart said Torres is believed to have tampered with at least 15 gas pumps along the Interstate 5 corridor — allowing him to fill several 55-gallon drums for free. Most of the victims weren't aware of the theft until much later.
Ummm... what I want to know is, how the hell does someone sit at a gas station and fill a 55 gallon drum, and no one happens to notice that it isn't paid for before he leaves?
Off hours - station closed - got some way of turning pumps on?
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 1:01 pm Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread
SoothSayer wrote:
They have a trapdoor in the bottom of the van, and drill a hole through the tank access hatch fitted in the ground below them.
Wasn't that in a movie recently?
(And anyway the article mentioned pump tampering, so that method seems unlikely in this case.)
vision-master wrote:
Off hours - station closed - got some way of turning pumps on?
Possible I suppose, but it's been my observation that along the I-5 corridor, particularly between Seattle & Portland, stations are usually open 24/7, tho' I guess there might be some that aren't. But I saw no mention in the article of the thefts occurring 'after hours'... _________________ "It means buckle your seatbelt, Dorothy, because Kansas? Is goin' bye-bye... "
Joined: May 18, 2006 Posts: 3965 Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 1:10 pm Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread
TWilliam wrote:
SoothSayer wrote:
They have a trapdoor in the bottom of the van, and drill a hole through the tank access hatch fitted in the ground below them.
Wasn't that in a movie recently?
vision-master wrote:
Off hours - station closed - got some way of turning pumps on?
Possible I suppose, but it's been my observation that along the I-5 corridor, particularly between Seattle & Portland, stations are usually open 24/7, tho' I guess there might be some that aren't. But I saw no mention in the article of the thefts occurring 'after hours'...
Heck, all I know is we used to run the windshield washer fluid hoses in the drivers dash and fill the container with Winsor. Worked like a champ - never any "open bottles".
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 2:50 pm Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread
Someone I know had always paid in cash inside after pumping. Now he notices that all the places that used to be fine with that are requiring payment before pumping because of the frequency of drive-aways (theft).
I am betting that this is pretty wide spread now and due to get much, much worse.
Just another factor that will hasten higher prices, even in the face of "demand destruction." Normal economics depends on people playing by the rules (so much for "free market"). People don't seem to be interested in the rules (not stealing) as gasoline skyrockets ever higher and people are stuck trying to fill their behemoth gas engorgers and diesel devourers.
You ain't seen nothin' yet. Driving season is just getting started.
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Gasoline thefts thread
I've stopped keeping my pickup (I use for < 2000 miles/year for towing) filled up. I'm seriously considering making a weatherproof sign or two with "LESS THAN TWO GALLONS OF GASOLINE IN TRUCK", like the old "NO STEREO IN CAR" signs. _________________ At 1% annual growth, human bodies will incorporate every gram in the observable universe in approximately 10,170 years.
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