Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Thieves steal gas from U-Haul, refill with water]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/27/thieves-steal-gas-from-u-haul-refill-with-water/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/27/thieves-steal-gas-from-u-haul-refill-with-water/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/27/thieves-steal-gas-from-u-haul-refill-with-water/#commentsFiled under: ,

We've seen our fair share of gasoline thefts as of late, and it seems that more are to be expected as the price for a gallon of gas continues its upwards trajectory. The latest scam affects moving companies such as U-Haul, which is now reporting that some renters of its trucks are using up the fuel in the tank and refilling them with water. Other less ingenious criminal minds are simply resorting to the age-old tactic of siphoning gas from the delivery vehicle's tanks.

One U-Haul employee in Olympia, Washington reports that she has seen "five or six [instances of] water in fuel [tanks] last week." Because water does not readily mix with gasoline, some renters have been able to go uncaught as the deed isn't found out until the next user gets the truck. In that case, major repair bills starting around $2,000 are necessary. Let's just hope that thieves looking to score some free gas at U-Haul's expense don't begin using the drill method.

[Source: KATU.com]

Thieves steal gas from U-Haul, refill with water originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gas theftgas theftsgas thievesgasoline theftgasoline thievesGasolineTheftGasolineThievesGasTheftGasTheftsGasThievesu-hauluhaulFri, 27 Jun 2008 08:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Gasoline theft in Hawaii on the rise]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/27/gasoline-theft-in-hawaii-on-the-rise/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/27/gasoline-theft-in-hawaii-on-the-rise/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/27/gasoline-theft-in-hawaii-on-the-rise/#commentsFiled under:

With the cost of gasoline skyrocketing, thieves in Hawaii -- where the average price easily exceeds $4 per gallon -- have taken extraordinary measures to steal fuel. Only mildly deterred by locking gas caps, bandits have been cutting fuel lines to circumvent the common preventatives. With nothing more than a straight edge blade, a piece of garden hose, and a bucket, the lawless make easy work of the plastic fuel lines under cars as they cut them to gain simple access to the tank and its flammable yet valuable liquid contents.

So far, most of the victims have been businesses or commercial ventures with several large trucks in their fleet. Parked unattended in lots overnight, their 20-30 gallon fuel tanks and raised ride height make them easy targets with larger yields than the average passenger vehicle. To deter the theft, business owners have installed sophisticated video surveillance cameras on their property and outfitted some vehicles with steel gas lines. "If they're crazy enough to go cut a steel line to steal the gas, they should be welcome to it," says George Nitta, owner of Nitta Auto Repair. "All they need is one spark from that saw and that's it, you're done." Thanks for the tip, catgirlshyla!

[Source: Honolulu Advertiser, photo by Justin Sullivan, Getty Images]

Gasoline theft in Hawaii on the rise originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 May 2008 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuel linefuel tankFuelLineFuelTankgasoline pricesgasoline theftGasolinePricesGasolineThefthawaiisiphonTue, 27 May 2008 17:28:00 EST