Holy Gas Theft, Batman! What’s Going on with Hopenchange?
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on May 8, 2011
With the price of gas soaring — some experts have predicted that gas could hit a staggering $5.00 a gallon by Memorial Day — gas thefts across the country are also increasing. Some people are stealing gas by siphoning from neighbors’ cars, others are drilling into strangers’ gas tanks, others are driving off from gas stations without paying, while still others are using stolen credit cards to buy expensive gasoline. And it’s not just unemployed individuals stealing gas to try to find work — organized crime has taken advantage of the desperation across the nation.
It’s mighty ugly out there. This news video covers the rash of gas thefts in California. Desperate times… how’s that “hopenchange” workin’ for you?
Gas theft increases are not just in California — here are handful of random reports from several states:
Hawaii: Gas theft a growing trend in Hawaii
Texas: As gas prices reach $4 per gallon reports of gas thefts on the rise and North Texas retailers combat gas theft with “Pay before Pumping” policy
Wisconsin: Suspected Gas Theft Ring Hits Suburbs and Police Report: Theft of Gas; Accidental 9-1-1 Dial
Washington: SW Wash. couple plead guilty in gas theft
Michigan: Tanks Under Attack: Gas Theft Evolves and Gas Prices Soar; Some Reporting Gas Theft
Iowa: Teenager dies as car flees gas drive-off in Ames
Arizona: Police: 2 Planned to Siphon Gas from Cars
Oregon: Police Catch Suspects In Longview Gas Theft
Colorado: Gas Theft In Grand Valley
Tennessee: Bulk Gas Thefts Increase With Prices
North Carolina: Thieves Canvassing Neighborhoods to Steal Gas and Charlotte Seeing Spike In Gas Thefts and Man caught siphoning gas arrested
Missouri: Store employees face brunt from gas thefts
Alaska: Two men sentenced for gas card theft
Illinois: Gas Theft Rises With Gas Prices
Georgia: Man Arrested in Riverdale Gas Theft Case
Montana: Gas prices take their toll
Reported last week by USA Today, Thefts rise as price of gas goes up:
Among recent tales of gas thievery:
• In Conover, N.C., 280 gallons of fuel were stolen from eight trucks at Penske truck rental. Owner Barry Lodge has spent $3,000 on surveillance gear, extra lighting and security patrols.
• Rusk County, Texas, officials are investigating the theft of 1,500 gallons of diesel from construction contractor W.T. Byler Co. The fuel was valued at about $5,250.
• In Thurston County, Wash., thieves cut locks on fuel tanks and siphoned gas from two county trucks, making off with more than 100 gallons of gas and diesel fuel.
• San Diego resident Jeff Flowers and neighbors are planning to put surveillance cameras outside their homes after thieves siphoned gas from four vehicles Easter morning. It’s the second time Flowers was targeted. “I’m going to catch them next time,” he says.
• Nashville has experienced several incidents of bulk thefts. Two men were arrested this month on charges of stealing more than 55 gallons of gas from an eastern Nashville Mapco station by opening underground tank covers and pumping out fuel.
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