Gas Thieves Getting More Creative

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By By Liz Rocca

Summary

Now, even a locking gas gap won't protect you against one new method of stealing gas.

Story Published: Sep 27, 2005 at 2:41 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 2:05 AM PDT

Gas Thieves Getting More Creative
THURSTON COUNTY - With gas prices as high as they are, gas thieves are getting more brazen -- and more creative -- than ever.

Not even a locking gas cap will protect you against one new method.

When thieves couldn't get to the gas through the cap, Courtney Schrieve says they crawled underneath her delivery van and went straight for the tank.

"And I wouldn't have known had I not gone to fill up the tank and found the leaking gas all over my feet," Schrieve said.

The gasoline splashing all over Courtney's feet was coming from a hole in the gas tank.

Newer cars make it real tough to siphon the gas these days, so it looks like the thieves took a sharp object, maybe a screwdriver, and simply pierced the gas tank.

The sad twist? The van is used to deliver free books to low-income children.

"It shocked me that somebody would do it to any car, but to do it to a non-profit vehicle that's helping children with literacy?" wondered Schrieve.

With gas prices soaring, auto shops tell us it's the latest trick of gas thieves. Believe it or not, most tanks these days are plastic, so it doesn't take much.

Back in April, Stephanie Fitch told us how thieves siphoned her tank in broad daylight. Gas prices weren't nearly as high then, yet an auto parts store had a run on locking gas caps.

Some stores tell us they still can't keep the caps in stock. Back at the book van, Courtney Schrieve tells us it cost her $200 for a new gas tank.

You know, I just wish people would think before they do things like this, and think about how it's going to impact somebody else," she said.

And the impact will be tough. Courtney says that's $200 worth of books that could have gone to the kids.

There have been at least six other recent cases of punctured tank thefts in Thurston County alone.