Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Anyone siphoning gas in your area yet?

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread		 This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (Through 2005) Donate to DU
 
Deja Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 07:23 PM
Original message
Anyone siphoning gas in your area yet?
http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S10700.html?cat=1

High gas prices may be the cause of a series of gas thefts in the west metro. Several business owners in Medina reported that more than a thousand gallons of gas have been stolen, costing them thousands of dollars.

The first night one business owner installed surveillance cameras, he caught thieves siphoning approximately 400 gallons of gas from his fleet of rental trucks. The theft is so frequent the thieves have worn a path through the woods leading to one industrial center’s parking lots, police say.

Another business owner, Tim Olson, checks the gas caps on his racing vehicles almost everyday. If the caps are loose, he knows he has been robbed. “It’s frustrating. It’s been going on for eight to nine months now,” he says.

In just the last two months, over 1,200 gallons have been stolen, and at an average of $2.75 per gallon, the value equals a loss of $3,400.

Article has more, of course.

Gas cap, low-riding vehicles kept in a garage are for the best right now.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
eleny Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 07:31 PM
Response to Original message
1. My car is out in the driveway so we got a locking gas cap
And we have a light on the front of the house that goes on via a motion detector. Every little bit helps.

I hear some newer models are equipped so gas can't be siphoned from the tank. Don't know which models. But a woman at the gas station filling up beside me said hers is like that. Wish I had paid attention. But I was having problems getting my new gas cap off. Oh, the irony!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mcscajun Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 07:31 PM
Response to Original message
2. Shades of the early 70s -- we'll be buying locking gas caps again
soon.

Very soon, I think.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Inland Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 07:34 PM
Response to Reply #2
4. I"ve been thinking that, which depresses me.
One, that I have to lock up my gasoline, and second, that we are going back to the seventies as far as gasoline and crime are concerned.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
cynatnite Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 07:32 PM
Response to Original message
3. Hubby had over 100 gallons siphoned out of his semi a month ago
This was a few weeks ago. We also have a locking gas cap, but that's only because I lost the other one a few weeks ago :eyes:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NYC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 07:35 PM
Response to Original message
5. During the last gasoline shortage,
(approx. 1979) didn't people start using locking gas caps?

Did that change?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mcscajun Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 07:44 PM
Response to Reply #5
8. We started doing that during the First shortage in the early 70s
and kept them until we sold the car.

Some folks did do that again during the late 70s also.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NYC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 08:18 PM
Response to Reply #8
12. Then what happened?
People gave them up? Didn't think it was necessary anymore? (Obviously, I'm not a car owner.)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mcscajun Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 08:28 PM
Response to Reply #12
13. Yup...it seemed silly *(and it was an inconvenience)* to keep the
gas caps on when there was no more rationing and prices were down.

So exactly -- we didn't think it was necessary anymore...and it hasn't been necessary in the last 25 years. :sigh:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NYC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 08:55 PM
Response to Reply #13
14. On the bright side,
people don't steal gas when the prices are low. I would have expected it to become a habit, even after the prices dropped again. Maybe it's too much trouble unless prices are high.

Also, I would suspect organized crime is involved in this.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Mr_Spock Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 07:37 PM
Response to Original message
6. Man, you are reminding me of the gas shortage in the late 70's
Um, not that I know anything about syphoning gas :D
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
BlueJac Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 07:39 PM
Response to Original message
7. Shit I swear I saw GW sucking on a hose in my neighborhood!
Edited on Mon Sep-26-05 07:40 PM by BlueJac
Maybe he was just sucking period!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mcscajun Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 07:48 PM
Response to Original message
9. Just a little history...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4894964
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DemocratSinceBirth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 07:51 PM
Response to Original message
10. I Can Remember When Kids Huffed Gas In The 70's
What a nasty habit....
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 07:52 PM
Response to Original message
11. How about moving it?
Edited on Mon Sep-26-05 08:14 PM by Dont_Bogart_the_Pret
I saw in a magazine some time back when someone tricked out there tail-light. I think it was a Bel-air?


I looked it up...57 Bel Air
"One neat exterior trick was the way the fuel cap had been hidden. It was in the fin above the left taillight. "
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
RebelOne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 09:00 PM
Response to Original message
15. I have a burgler alarm on my car,
so if anyone even so much as touches it, the lights will flash, the horn will go off and an alarm will sound.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
arkie dem Donating Member (279 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-26-05 09:07 PM
Response to Original message
16. Both my Toyotas have locking filler doors,
my wifes Chevy doesn't. I tried to syphon gas from her ride and couldn't get a 1/2" dia tube into the tank past the filler neck. I guess I'm going to have to break down and pay for it myself.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Tue Apr 30th 2024, 02:28 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (Through 2005) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC