My Mom was a victim of Gas THEFT .. Has it happend to you yet?

My mother and step-father both woke up this morning to empty gas tanks in their automobiles. My Step dad says he had just over 3/4s a tank and my Mom had just filled up the night before.

Somone came onto there property and siphoned the gas out of the tanks. The cars sit in the drive because there is no room in the garage.

My step-dad's truck holds about $100 worth of gas when filled up and my mom's car can hold around $60. Depending on the prices.

Both of them drive new vehicles and I was actually surprised that the tank opens freely from the outside without having to press a release button or needing to be unlocked.

I just can't believe this is happening.. And gas really isn't as high as it has been around here. Current price is 2.85/ gallon.


Has this ever happend to you or anyone that you know?

 

It happened to my parents a long time ago, but in another country. Someplace where gas is 3 times more expensive and salaries are 10 times lower
Oh, and the gas tanks can be locked there.

 

Surprisingly it doesn't seem to happen a lot here in the UK - despite the fact fuel costs the equivalent of $10 per gallon.

 

Get an aftermarket lockable gas cap. Franky, it is said to hear these stories. This means that ppl get desperate as the economy slows down and their incomes drop.

 

It probably won't do any good and you will end up with an empty tank and a broken gas cap

 

i just about to say the same

 

I think that my step dad is going to go out and by a motion sensitive light that also has a camera attached. Or at least that is what he is talking about doing.

My mom and stepdad both live out on a country gravel road just outside of a city of about 10,000. Small town America! I know that the economy is hitting this area kind of hard and I guess people are now resorting to stealing.. very sad indeed.

 

I thought this thread was going to be a joke about flatulence. Boy is my face red.

As for the gas theft, I've never known of that happening to anyone around where I live.

 

Come on, why would anyone want to make an effort and break a lockable gas cap if they can find lots of cars that do not have lockable gas caps ?

 

That is a really good idea, I will suggest it to my parents. Surely alot cheaper than a motion light/camera.

I hope that does not happen..

 

Practice

 

The real solution is to throw away the $200 worth of junk in the garage and then park the 20K cars in there.

 

LOL, that might be the case in your garage...

My step dad's garage is full of heavy weight, expensive tools.

2 air compressors
1 huge drill press
1 lathe
1 bench saw
and a whole lot of other, valuble, items..

 

Not in mine but most of the neighbors suffer from that problem.

 

Yah, I've seen some pretty cluttered garages in my day too.

I for one like to have everything neat and organized. And I think my step-dad is the same way.

But you are right, some people's garages are just NaSTY!

 

sometimes you find a really strange person, that keeps their car in the garage, like me

 

I keep my Mazda in the garage, the Hummer though sits in the driveway. Out of the 2 the Mazda has a locking gas cover, the Hummer doesn't!

I thought new cars had anti syphon devices which stopped this practice. Of course any time something is put into place, someone will find a way around it.

 

Hmm.. I'll have to get out my Mom's drivers manual and see what it says about that. My mom drives a 2007 Malibu Max and my StepDad drive a new truck.. , I realy don't know what type.. LOL ( not much of a car guy here).

But I am now curious because I never even knew such a device existed.. thanks!

 

here's a thought.... buy a fuel efficient vehicle! You people driving 1 person in a full sized truck getting 14MPG and 24 gallon+ tanks that don't need it at all.... I daily drive an 07 Civic HYBRID where even if my gas tank is COMPLETELY topped off it holds around 11 gallons...

Locking gas caps are a JOKE BTW... Straight screwdriver lined up with the keyhole and a decent smack and its coming right off....

The past 3 months I've put about 14k miles on my car which is nearly 4 times the "average" number of miles driven in that span for the average person. With the money I save in gas I put a small amount away towards weekend toys. Currently I only have a '68 Mustang and a '75 F100 but I'm saving up to get another shelby cobra roadster. I drove my previous cobra for a YEAR and sold it for a PROFIT! Unlike you people that drive nice NEW cars where i'm putting my money actually goes UP in value

 

Even over here in Australia that is common.