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Hernando Today

Gasoline Thefts On The Rise

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By KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: July 11, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - The tools: Hose, bucket, cordless drill, nerves of steel.

The target: Gasoline stored in your car, lawnmower and generator.

Hernando County is no exception to the recent uptick in thefts of "liquid gold" as fuel prices continue to climb sky high.

The numbers are telling:

Since July 1, there have been 54 cases of tanks punctured or siphoned for gasoline with a total loss valued at $2,972. That averages out to six thefts and $330 a day.

And there's no end in sight.

"We're getting new (cases) every day," said Sgt. Donna Black, sheriff's spokeswoman. "It really impacts the working people because it's hard enough to get money for gas."

No arrests have been made.

Statewide and nationally, consumers have been hit hard by thieves siphoning gas out of vehicles left in driveways, parking lots and even car dealerships. It recently prompted the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to send out a public warning to safeguard vehicles.

While there's no statewide database documenting the thefts, anecdotal evidence points to a spike in occurrences around the time gas prices hit $3.75, said Terence McElroy, spokesman.

With gas prices expected to hover in the $4 range, "we'll only see this continue to rise," McElroy said.

In the domestic arena, thieves are siphoning gas from cars parked in driveways, lawnmowers and making off with gas canisters. With hurricane season hitting full stride, folks stockpiling fuel for their generators are finding their rations missing as well.

Commercially, the targets seem to be farms, lawn services and gas stations.

Purchasing a locking gas cap is one way to thwart a fuel filcher. Additionally, most modern cars have an assortment of springs and screens that it make difficult for a siphoning thief to poke a hose down inside the tank, says Jerry Parker, a mechanic at Rogers Garage in Brooksville.

Thieves have apparently overcome these obstacles by using a cordless drill to puncture the gas tank directly. This means the victim is not only out $50 worth of gas but forced to replace the tank as well.

By Parker's estimates, that can cost between $150 and $600, depending on the type of vehicle.

Even as gasoline surfaces as the latest trend in crimes of opportunity, there are other valuable goodies in a vehicle. The platinum in catalytic converters is fetching a fair price on the market; the sheriff's office is currently investigating 29 of those cases worth some $23,389.

Not to be outdone, copper thefts have generated 88 cases since Jan. 1 and caused $131,000 worth of damage.

Tips To Prevent Fuel Thefts

Consider the purchase of a locking gas cap.

When possible, park your car in a locked garage.

Park in well-lit areas when possible.

If a vehicle has an alarm, set it before parking.

Check the fuel gauge before parking; report any fuel theft immediately.

When pumping fuel at a gas station, never leave an activated pump unattended.

Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com. Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Se

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