Gas thieves.......

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Sheesh, now we have to worry about having our gas stolen.


Alex Johnson at MSNBC writes:

As gas prices soar, thieves grow more brazen.

It’s not just drive-offs — crooks targeting individual cars with siphons, drills

With siphons, pumps, saws — and sometimes lethal weapons — gasoline thieves are on the hunt.

Most gas thefts are still perpetrated by motorists who drive off without paying. After seeing declines in drive-offs earlier this decade, after many stores began requiring drivers to pre-pay, the National Association of Convenience Stores says they’re rising sharply again. ...

But with the average price of a gallon of gas having more than doubled in the last two years, thieves are branching out. Across the country, drivers are waking up to find their gas caps pried open and their tanks dry.

While there are no national statistics yet tracking an increase in gas thefts, police across the country say they’re investigating more reports than ever before. ...

...police in Denver are investigating a rash of of incidents in which thieves drill small holes into gas tanks and siphon off the fuel. "This is clearly not the way it’s been done in the past, by taking a hose and putting it in a gas tank," police Detective John White said.

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

I remember getting locking gas caps for our vehicles in the late 70's when prices jumped, but drilling holes in the gas tank -- yikes!

Kurt

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

They are most likely targeting big SUV's. Unless doing a long trip, I think it might be best to keep your tanks under half filled rather than filled.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

They are most likely targeting big SUV's. Unless doing a long trip, I think it might be best to keep your tanks under half filled rather than filled.

That only solves the problem of losing half a tank of fuel rather than a full tank. I don't think the thieves can see if the tank is half empty and would still drill a hole in the tank to get what gas is in there.

We purchased locking gas caps when gas looked like it would hit $3/gallon. It's unfortunate that thieves have taken to prying gas caps off or drilling holes in gas tanks. Looks as if the locking gas caps could cost more money than just losing a tank of gas.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I remember one co-worker who went with the locking gas cap in the last gas crisis, only to have his tank drilled and emptied.
And now those cordless drills are much more prevalent.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

That only solves the problem of losing half a tank of fuel rather than a full tank. I don't think the thieves can see if the tank is half empty and would still drill a hole in the tank to get what gas is in there.

We purchased locking gas caps when gas looked like it would hit $3/gallon. It's unfortunate that thieves have taken to prying gas caps off or drilling holes in gas tanks. Looks as if the locking gas caps could cost more money than just losing a tank of gas.

Maybe what needs to be done is have the car makers start making smaller tanks. Rather than have a 22 or 24 gal tank make 12 to 15 gal tank.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Ucccchhh....the gas-tank cover (the part that's part of the car body, that flips open to reveal the plug over the tank) fell off our old car ages ago--came off right in the gas-station guy's hand. It can't be reattached because that would involve welding and welding + gasoline = a no-no.

So we drive around with our gas-tank opening (it still has the black rubber plug thing) showing. Guess it's time to buy a locking tank plug...or maybe not. What's better, to just leave it hanging out, or to get a locking plug? The car is an old Camry station wagon, so the tank isn't gigantic.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Ucccchhh....the gas-tank cover (the part that's part of the car body, that flips open to reveal the plug over the tank) fell off our old car ages ago--came off right in the gas-station guy's hand. It can't be reattached because that would involve welding and welding + gasoline = a no-no.

So we drive around with our gas-tank opening (it still has the black rubber plug thing) showing. Guess it's time to buy a locking tank plug...or maybe not. What's better, to just leave it hanging out, or to get a locking plug? The car is an old Camry station wagon, so the tank isn't gigantic.

Just so you are aware You are losing gas by evaporating it.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Just so you are aware You are losing gas by evaporating it.

Are we? The tank's not open, the tight-fitting plug (the thing you reach in and turn and then remove, sometimes connected with a little chain or sometimes left on the roof of the car by accident) is still there. The thing that's missing is just the cover--it's part of the car's body, the same paint job as the car. We're not driving around splashing gasoline out; the plug holds that in and holds the fumes in, too. I don't think the cover does anything except make the gas-tank access look better.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Are we? The tank's not open, the tight-fitting plug (the thing you reach in and turn and then remove, sometimes connected with a little chain or sometimes left on the roof of the car by accident) is still there. The thing that's missing is just the cover--it's part of the car's body, the same paint job as the car. We're not driving around splashing gasoline out; the plug holds that in and holds the fumes in, too. I don't think the cover does anything except make the gas-tank access look better.

OK I got the parts mixed up. I thought it was the part that turns.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

OK I got the parts mixed up. I thought it was the part that turns.

Oh, phew.

Anyway...I'm thinking we SHOULDN'T get the locking cap because I'd rather have our gas siphoned than have our gas tank drilled.

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

Looks as if the locking gas caps could cost more money than just losing a tank of gas.

Good point. I would much lose a tank of gas than have my tank drilled anyday.

Kurt

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Maybe what needs to be done is have the car makers start making smaller tanks. Rather than have a 22 or 24 gal tank make 12 to 15 gal tank.

The problem with that is they'd be selling cars that don't go very far on a tank of gas. Nothing like filling up every other day rather than once a week or having to stop 3 or 4 times for gas on long trips when you use to only have to stop once.

What I see happening is an after market gas tank cover that is essentially drill proof. How that would be done I'm not sure but, if it's really becomes a problem then I'm certain there will be a way to do it.

On the other hand, I'm not so sure this isn't a slow news day thing. Europe has had petrol prices exceeding $5/gallon for a long time and I haven't ever heard that this was a problem in Europe. Part of the problem is the news media must come up with stories to fill their programing 24/7. You can tell when things are really getting slow because you'll start seeing the stories about norovirus on cruise ships again.

I'd like to think that, if drilling holes in gas tanks was really a problem, you'd hear about a few thiefs that had blown themselves up already. Gas tanks still have vapors in them and you'd think that the thiefs would eventually cause a spark and ignite a tank or two. Drilling a hole in the bottom shouldn't get the gas out very quickly unless there's a good vent hole somewhere else. If you have to drill a vent hole, you're going to hit vapors. If there's a spark then your plan to steal gas could be rather short lived......as would be the thief. This "news" story really doesn't seem to be very practicle and sounds more like something you'd see in the Darwin Awards.

[jfitz Member Find all posts View Profile Close jfitz]

I remember getting locking gas caps for our vehicles in the late 70's when prices jumped, but drilling holes in the gas tank -- yikes!

Kurt

I worked for an auto parts store back then. We couldn't keep locking gas caps in stock. Ice picks, awls, siphons, plastic containers and drain pans were also big sellers for some reason.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

I'd like to think that, if drilling holes in gas tanks was really a problem, you'd hear about a few thiefs that had blown themselves up already. Gas tanks still have vapors in them and you'd think that the thiefs would eventually cause a spark and ignite a tank or two.
If you have to drill a vent hole, you're going to hit vapors. If there's a spark then your plan to steal gas could be rather short lived......as would be the thief.

That's what I started thinking! Can't cordless drills produce a spark? Or wouldn't the friction and heat of drilling pose a risk? But I looked it up on Snopes and they don't mention it....