Is no gas tank safe? Rising prices prompt increased theft By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY Sky-high fuel prices are spawning an uptick in sales of locking gas caps amid scattered reports of siphoning thefts around the nation. AutoZone, the nation's largest auto parts chain, sold more than 10,000 locking gas caps last week, up more than 60% over a typical week. "That was a pretty big spike," says AutoZone spokesman Ray Pohlman. Pep Boys, another large chain, reports locking gas cap sales are running about 5% higher than last year. Advance Auto Parts, with 2,700 stores, says sales are up, too. The upsurge comes amid reports of thieves trying to tap into motorists' gas tanks around the country now that a fill-up can cost $50 or more. Gas hit a new nominal record Monday of an average $2.61 a gallon for regular in the latest government survey. Diesel fuel averaged $2.58 a gallon; more than $3 in California. Where fuel rustlers have struck: • About $75 worth of gas was siphoned from three vans at the Kids Harbor of Bay Creek child care center in Grayson, Ga., last week, director Brandy McCollum says. She says she made the discovery when she found the gas caps open on all three vehicles. "The police say there's not much we can do," McCollum says. She posted signs noting the area was under video surveillance and spent $70 on new locking caps. • Thieves stole an estimated 80 gallons of gas from vehicles parked at three businesses in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Aug. 12, police say. With gas prices so high, "That stuff is like gold," Sgt. Joe Cawley says. Though siphoners failed to snatch any gas at television station KPVI, general manager Bill Fouch bought about six locking gas caps for company and employee vehicles anyway. • Jackie Kelley, 68, a retiree in Schenectady, N.Y., says someone siphoned about three-quarters of the gas out of the tank of her 10-year-old Dodge Intrepid last week. She says she didn't call the police because the theft was so minor, but contacted a local TV station so "people would be aware." • A truck and equipment rental business in Medina, Minn., believes it has lost 400 gallons of diesel fuel to thieves. While other area businesses are still vulnerable, Highway 55 Rental owner Jeff Pederson says he's now foiling the crooks by having installed locking gas caps on 25 vehicles. Sometimes the theft occurs on a bigger scale. Police in Gulfport, Miss., say they arrested two men last week on charges of siphoning $275 worth of fuel from the underground tanks of a local Clark Oil station. On some car and truck models, the gas-fill door can be opened only by a switch inside the vehicle or when the vehicle is unlocked. But so far, domestic automakers aren't planning to add more locking devices. Among cars offering locking gas caps: Ford's Crown Victoria police cruiser, which offers one as an option. Some vehicles have baffles or valves in the gas filler pipe that deter siphoners. "The inlet has a block to the tank," says Chrysler Group spokesman Nick Cappa. "For safety reasons, you really don't want people in there." Web source: http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2005-08-25-gas-cap-usat_x.htm
