Gas thefts rise with increased fuel prices

The second morning Marie Waltrip found the gas cap on her husbands truck dangling from its plastic cord, she was angry.

[wildman]

Good idea to also disengage the lever lock as it will prevent additional damage and they offer little or no protection.

[Pamparius]

I would think a Tundra would have the locking door flap and possibly a key-lock cap.
They probably will keep coming back. Set a trap for them. Likely in the valley they are meth addicts. If so, its totally legal to bring the law into your own hands.
You work hard, and they feel they are entitled to the fruits of your labors.

[Rocket J Squirrel]

1. siphoning gas tanks less than 5 minutes
2 response time from deputies in a rural area, 15 minutes + option 3, 3500 Feet per second, less than 1 minute to respond

[Therese]

Way to go Marie! Thanks for pursuing this and informing your neighbors by going door to door with fliers yesterday. We need to send a clear message to the perps that we will not tolerate their antics!

[countersTrike]

Sad, but with oil at $141.+ [$141.74 right now] animals creep out from under rocks. Similar to the rash of gas thefts in 1974. Perfect reasoning to buy a cheap sardine can car, scooter, or bike. Seems like history is repeating itself.

[the dog]

I wonder where Jerry parks his trucks these days.

[Lucas]

It's probably one of the neighbors...

[Equalizer]

Get a rope

[JCD]

I've noticed so far that thieves tend to go for the biggest hauls they can - makes sense. This means little cars like civics, metros and cobalts will be somewhat safer, whereas the really big SUVs and trucks are almost a lost cause. What, like a 10-11 gallon tank on the small cars, and 26-28 gallons on a Tundra?

My brother the mechanic has mentioned how easy it is to get fuel out of these big vehicles, as well as getting to their cat converters. Everything is so super-sized, unlike the tiny parts on compacts, that getting to anything is easy.

[X Humboldt Kid]

Thanks GW you little bas..tard.

[Grr]

We got hit twice by the gas-bandits, as did our neighbors. Can't wait till they get caught - I really want to know who it is.

[Up All Night]

We have set the snare...

[whattodoinjuly]

X Humboldt Kid wrote:

Thanks GW you little bas..tard.

wow......i think we have a "special" person with us.

[Up All Night]

whattodoinjuly wrote:

<quoted text>
wow......i think we have a "special" person with us.

You Bet...

[giga320]

you think this ladys lazy husband would do something after the first theft, hey idiot you deserve it again for not taking some type of action after the first time and what do you want the cops to do about it can you prove it was your gas they stole any tattos or markings on that gas to claim it...

[Grr]

After the first time we got hit we did take action, we're not lazy and as responsible hard working people I don't think either of us are "idiots," rather victims of a crime.

The motion sensing light and locking gas caps didn't stop them in our case - they just broke off the top of the locking gas cap and siphoned away. Beyond that, parking right up next to something so that a body can't fit between the gas cap and the wall/fence/other car has worked for 2 nights.

Watch out for karma when you call people names - it's a doozy.

[Dave]

I'll bet you it's one of the neighbors. At least the thieves are uses the gas cap. In San Jose they're actually drilling holes into the tank itself.

[Grr]

Yeah - speculation is that it's someone nearby who is familiar with the people. From what I understand it's happening so far on just 2 streets about 3 or 4 blocks away from each other, and they keep hitting the same trucks over and over, and they're only taking gas (not stealing other stuff). I am grateful that they didn't damage the car itself.

Motion detecting surveillance cameras with infrared coming soon...