Thursday, August 25, 2005
USA Today Reports on Fumers
Is no gas tank safe?
- 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.
