Someone siphoned 1/2 of a tank of gas from my SUV this week-end! This happened right in our driveway. I haven't been filling it to full because it cost so much so I usually put $25 in at a time. They got every bit of it. When my DH started the car it said I had 0 miles to empty. He put gas in it and when he got home he said, "you're going to run out of gas sometime if you don't quit driving it on empty." That's when I told him I had just put gas in the day before. We'll be buying a locking gas cap tomorrow.
Shirley
Darn gas thieves!
In Tyler?! Oh man...
Sorry to hear about that. That locking cap oughta help.
So sorry to hear that news. Guess the locking gas cap would be better than a booby trap! Not as fun though.
In the early 70s when gas was short, we lived in AZ. We camped out in the desert alot and carried two metal gas cans full of water. Welllll.... one night, someone stole them from the truck. We still laugh with hopes they filled their gas tank before they realized what they stole. 8 )
Even closer to your home Antiquedrose... a friend took his vehicle to the Lufkin Toyota dealer and in chatting with an employee there, was told they were replacing quite a few gas tanks that had been spiked to drain the gas. Guess what the replacements cost... $ 500.00. It is not pleasant when people are too lazy to work yet ambitious enough to help themselves. Grrrrr!
Suprising the dealership can't nab the perps from looking at surveillence tape.
This is one difference from the '70's. The explosion of cameras everywhere; from business, gov't. and private individuals. Homes have inexpensive cameras up. You can monitor multiple areas of your property and home from your computer. Night vision technology assist in the comprehensive look, see, document.
Stay Safe, Be Well
I read an article about a church whose van's had been hit up 3-4 times already and they don't know what to do. I was amazed they didn't think of locking gas caps. We all had one in the 80s if I recall!
Yeah, I'd never heard of them drilling into the tank before this year...apparently fairly common now. I'd rather replace some gas than have to replace a gas tank. The locking caps will only deter the rank amateurs.
Mercy sakes! Sorry you had that misfortune, Shirley. Hope the locking gas caps are enough of a deterrent.
Isn't drilling into the tank dangerous - possibly explosive?
Yuska.
Been there, had that done! Totally understand your frustration!! I drive a truck with a 28 gallon tank. When gas hit $2/gal, thieves came and siphoned off gas during the wee hours of the morning in our driveway. Got a locking gas cap and that took care of the problem. I hope the locking gas cap works for you as well.
Stephanie
I don't think the gas tank thieves worry about explosions much...they seem to know what they are doing.
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0508/523335.html
I'm in Tyler and am shocked to hear that happened here. I keep my car in the garage with the door down when at home. But it certainly could happen parked anywhere in public. Sad times.
They can still hang horse thieves in Texas......wonder if we could stretch the rope a bit to fit horsepower thieves.....get a rope!! One better....stretch some really thin fising line across and around your driveway, and attach a end to an alarm of some kind....or a pit bull.
"eyes"
I even thought about an electric wire stretched across the driveway! I just hate the idea that someone comes on our property and helps themselves right under our noses.
My son works at Macy's in the fine jewelry dept. and in case you haven't heard someone broke in Sat. am and busted out the cases and was in and out in 2 min. He just talked to his boss and she said it looks like there was about $200,000 in jewelry taken. That's not even the real good stuff, thank goodness he had put it in the vault when he closed.
I also bought a locking gas cap when gas hit $2.
...I also have 2 full 5 gallon cans of gas in the shed, plus 4 gallons in the riding mower. I'm thinking about some type of alarm on my bridge across the creek. It's the only access other than by foot the long way around, through the briars.
I just asked my DH if he got me a locking gas cap today. He told me that the one that I have to have costs about $70! That electric wire is sounding better and better.
Holy moley! We got mine at O'Reilly Auto Parts and it was less than $10. Of course, my truck's a 1991, so that might have something to do with it.
I'm thinkin' maybe a pea shooter might be effective!
My first one (several years ago) was about $10-12. This new one bought last month was $25 or more, maybe as much as $40... I forget exactly. 1992 truck.
Steph.......gotta be awake and waiting for a pea shooter to do much good..String that fishin' line wrapped around stakes that you can move in and out each morning and night....rigg it good!!
"eyes"
Shirley, That just stinks! I am glad to hear you are out and about on your own tho :0)
We use a wireless driveway alarm. I think DH got it from an automotive store.I don't think it cost very much. It's hard to see when installed and works great, loud enough it will wake you out of a dead sleep! LOL
Oh well, I've spent more than that on a bad meal! I am getting around really good. I'm still in rehab, one knee is being quite contrary. If it wasn't for going to rehab tho I wouldn't have a social life! I think I'll probably be finished within a couple of weeks, just in time for school to start.
Same thing happening here. Spiking tanks to drain the gas when thieves can't get in through the gas cap.
Worse is that many of the farmers and ranchers that have huge gas and diesel tanks and fuel barrels for their farm equipment are getting hit big time. We're talking about thieves stealing several hundred gallons at a time.
Since we are right near the Mexico border we also have problems with lots of stolen construction equipment. Mexico has hundreds of stolen backhoes, bulldozers, graders and such that are impossible to recover!!!
I just can't understand why these idiots find it easier to steal instead of working and buying it like the rest of us.
Did I also mention copper thieves? Schools, businesses and subdivisions under construction have been broken into and rolls of copper wiring and tubing are stolen to be sold at recycling places.
I like the idea of stringing some fishing line to an alarm aka pit bull!!! Also still laughing about the gas cans filled with water. I might just be tempted to do that with a couple of those one gallon cans that I use for my lawnmower and weedeater. Wonder what a mix of gas and gatorade would do?! Pay back...hmmmm
~ Cat
This message was edited Jul 22, 2008 11:14 PM
I too thought the water in the gas can was funny, Only thing that would stop me from doing it is that 21 year old son who sometimes runs short on money and gas and raids our gas cans. Several times DH has gone out to mow and the can would be empty. Gotta love those kids!
We have had locking caps or covers since the 50's, but if these people are so desperate, why don't they ask?
I have given many people a gallon or so to be able to get to a station - never wanted any payment - just "pass it on".
Locking caps also prevent something undesirable being added to your tank. There are a rash of tank stuffing pranks every year either at the end of school or the beginning.
Bubba ~ on your comment on "giving the gas" ~ the police in the larger cities are doing just that. Giving stranded motorists "courtesy gas" ~ enough to get them off the highway to a service station. They began to realize they were seeing the same motorists again and again. Now, when they refuse to give one of those repeat stranders any fuel, they drive off. Gee, weren't out of gas after all???!?
Sadly, some will ruin it for the truly stranded...