Gas prices have reached historic highs and are only set to keep rising, and now reports have begun to come out of incidents of gasoline theft.
In Southern California, a viewer shared photographs with KTVU-TV showing what happened to one vehicle: a thief had drilled a hole in the fuel tank and drained it of all the gas.
According to reports from the American Automobile Association, gas siphoning and other crimes of theft are on the rise as gas prices continue to skyrocket.
“This is a sign of the times you know,” AAA spokesman Doug Shupe said in an interview with KTVU. “It’s thieves looking for ways that they can make money by stealing what is becoming an increasingly more expensive and valuable commodity, gasoline.”
The Blaze reports:
The average price for a gallon of regular gas in California is currently $5.44, up from $3.75 last year. Price increases related to inflation have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, where Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country has disrupted energy production. Additionally, U.S. economic sanctions and the Biden administration’s action to ban oil and gas imports from Russia have restricted supply, further increasing prices.
“[It] used to be $60, then it went to $70, I think two weeks ago it was $90,” California resident Mona Garcia told the local news station while filling up her car on Monday, March 7th. When she had finished, the bill was $100.
Garcia said she uses a driveway camera and floodlight as a means to deter would-be thieves from stealing gas from her tank.
For individuals who are victims of gas theft, the cost can be high. If thieves drill into your fuel tank, the cost isn’t just a tank of gas: repairs can cost you more than $1,000.
“Oftentimes vehicle owners who find themselves victims of this type of gasoline theft, they have to replace the entire gas tank,” AAA spokesman Doug Shupe warned. “So it is a costly repair and replacement that needs to be made.”
The risk isn’t just to people in crime-riddled Californian. Last week, police in Atlanta, Georgia arrested a man who is suspected of drilling holes in multiple fuel tanks to steal thousands of dollars worth of gasoline, according to reporting by WAGA-TV.
The Blaze reports:
AAA recommends that people take precautions against thieves while gas prices remain high, including parking the car in a locked garage if you have one. If you do not have access to a garage, it is recommended that you park in a well-lit area with high foot traffic or a fenced-in lot or parking garage, if available. When parking in a garage, vehicle owners should be mindful to park near the exit or elevator, areas with high visibility and foot traffic, AAA says.
Signs that your fuel tank may have been tampered with include the smell of gasoline, a puddle under your vehicle, or a lit check engine light. AAA recommends that anyone who suspects their gas was stolen file a police report and contact their vehicle insurance company to check if the repairs are covered.
Source: The Blaze
