Gas theft on the rise

jtvang125

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2004
5,399
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A couple of cops investigating an attempted burgalry of a coworker told him that gas theft is on the rise in his area. Not surprising because of gas prices but I have been to his house before and it is a nice area.

I'm in a not so nice area and I haven't really heard anything yet but I'm thinking of buying one of those gas caps with a lock.
 

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Originally posted by: jtvang125
A couple of cops investigating an attempted burgalry of a coworker told him that gas theft is on the rise in his area. Not surprising because of gas prices but I have been to his house before and it is a nice area.

I'm in a not so nice area and I haven't really heard anything yet but I'm thinking of buying one of those gas caps with a lock.

Link?
 

Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
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Yeah my last car got syphoned a few times. My current one needs to be popped from the inside.
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Yea its been on the news here.

I think it was bob and tom radio show that made a short skit a year or so ago about soemthing like bobs cheap gas. You give them $20 and they give you a hose and the address of a large suv that just filled up.

 

hanoverphist

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2006
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Originally posted by: Canai
Yeah my last car got syphoned a few times. My current one needs to be popped from the inside.

those inside lever ones can be easily popped with a decent knife. gas siphoning isnt anything new, but you probably will see more of it with the price of gas rising. my old car got hit a few times a couple years ago, but i havent had any issues so far with my truck. i thought about getting a locking cap too, but have yet to do that.
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Originally posted by: hanoverphist
Originally posted by: Canai
Yeah my last car got syphoned a few times. My current one needs to be popped from the inside.

those inside lever ones can be easily popped with a decent knife. gas siphoning isnt anything new, but you probably will see more of it with the price of gas rising. my old car got hit a few times a couple years ago, but i havent had any issues so far with my truck. i thought about getting a locking cap too, but have yet to do that.

That or you can just crawl under the car, cut the line and suck it out from there.
 

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: hanoverphist
Originally posted by: Canai
Yeah my last car got syphoned a few times. My current one needs to be popped from the inside.

those inside lever ones can be easily popped with a decent knife. gas siphoning isnt anything new, but you probably will see more of it with the price of gas rising. my old car got hit a few times a couple years ago, but i havent had any issues so far with my truck. i thought about getting a locking cap too, but have yet to do that.

That or you can just crawl under the car, cut the line and suck it out from there.

Yep even more of the reason why I don't drive a car. Can't have this happen to a bike.
 

Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
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Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: hanoverphist
Originally posted by: Canai
Yeah my last car got syphoned a few times. My current one needs to be popped from the inside.

those inside lever ones can be easily popped with a decent knife. gas siphoning isnt anything new, but you probably will see more of it with the price of gas rising. my old car got hit a few times a couple years ago, but i havent had any issues so far with my truck. i thought about getting a locking cap too, but have yet to do that.

That or you can just crawl under the car, cut the line and suck it out from there.

Haha well shit. There goes my peace of mind :(
 

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Originally posted by: Canai
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: hanoverphist
Originally posted by: Canai
Yeah my last car got syphoned a few times. My current one needs to be popped from the inside.

those inside lever ones can be easily popped with a decent knife. gas siphoning isnt anything new, but you probably will see more of it with the price of gas rising. my old car got hit a few times a couple years ago, but i havent had any issues so far with my truck. i thought about getting a locking cap too, but have yet to do that.

That or you can just crawl under the car, cut the line and suck it out from there.

Haha well shit. There goes my peace of mind :(

Good to see. If you can't take it with you there is no guarantees or peace of mind.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
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I should just put a sticker on my wife's car that says "This car never carries more than 5 gallons of gas at any time".

 

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Originally posted by: vi edit
I should just put a sticker on my wife's car that says "This car never carries more than 5 gallons of gas at any time".

Why would that matter? People would still steal. You can't stop a dedicated theft no matter what you do.
 

jaqie

Platinum Member
Apr 6, 2008
2,471
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Originally posted by: Marlin1975
That or you can just crawl under the car, cut the line and suck it out from there.
I thought fuel lines had to be stainless steel for federal regulations' sake.
 

jaqie

Platinum Member
Apr 6, 2008
2,471
1
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Originally posted by: pcslookout
Why would that matter? People would still steal. You can't stop a dedicated theft no matter what you do.
Yes, you can. You just have to be more dedicated then they are, though after a certain point those lengths become absurd.
 

S Freud

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2005
4,755
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I would suggest getting a locking gas cap. Or do what I do and ride a bike.
 

2Xtreme21

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2004
7,044
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That's why I always sit behind the bushes with an assault rifle waiting to leap out and mow down anyone who walks within 25 feet of my car.
 

Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
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Originally posted by: jaqie
Originally posted by: pcslookout
Why would that matter? People would still steal. You can't stop a dedicated theft no matter what you do.
Yes, you can. You just have to be more dedicated then they are, though after a certain point those lengths become absurd.

Remember those Japanese (I think) cars with the fire things on the side to prevent car jackings? I don't know if they were real or not, but I remember seeing some videos of them a few years ago.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
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Originally posted by: Canai
Originally posted by: jaqie
Originally posted by: pcslookout
Why would that matter? People would still steal. You can't stop a dedicated theft no matter what you do.
Yes, you can. You just have to be more dedicated then they are, though after a certain point those lengths become absurd.

Remember those Japanese (I think) cars with the fire things on the side to prevent car jackings? I don't know if they were real or not, but I remember seeing some videos of them a few years ago.

That was somewhere in Africa I think.
 

deadlyapp

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2004
6,672
744
126
Originally posted by: jaqie
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
That or you can just crawl under the car, cut the line and suck it out from there.
I thought fuel lines had to be stainless steel for federal regulations' sake.

Most are hardlined up to the engine bay, but there are typically some rubber hoses from the fuel pump to those hardlines.
 

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
Originally posted by: jaqie
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
That or you can just crawl under the car, cut the line and suck it out from there.
I thought fuel lines had to be stainless steel for federal regulations' sake.

Most of it is, but usually there are rubber segments leading up to certain components like the tank itself, the fuel filter, etc.

 

jaqie

Platinum Member
Apr 6, 2008
2,471
1
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I would love to see you try to get into the area between a small car's fuel tank and pump. A lot of them actually have the pump inside a dip in the gas tank itself now, and those that don't, usually have them just above the tank. At that point it would be easier to cut out the gas tank and take it then to get into that area.
 

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Originally posted by: jaqie
Originally posted by: pcslookout
Why would that matter? People would still steal. You can't stop a dedicated theft no matter what you do.
Yes, you can. You just have to be more dedicated then they are, though after a certain point those lengths become absurd.

There is always someone else out there that will be even more dedicated than you are though.
 

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
That's why I always sit behind the bushes with an assault rifle waiting to leap out and mow down anyone who walks within 25 feet of my car.

Wow you must live a very sad boring life then.
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
81
Most gas theft these days comes from putting a bucket under the tank and putting a hole in the tank. It's faster, and easier. But leaves the owner with a huge bill to replace the tank. But hey, what does the thief care?
 

hanoverphist

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2006
9,867
23
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Originally posted by: pcslookout
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: hanoverphist
Originally posted by: Canai
Yeah my last car got syphoned a few times. My current one needs to be popped from the inside.

those inside lever ones can be easily popped with a decent knife. gas siphoning isnt anything new, but you probably will see more of it with the price of gas rising. my old car got hit a few times a couple years ago, but i havent had any issues so far with my truck. i thought about getting a locking cap too, but have yet to do that.

That or you can just crawl under the car, cut the line and suck it out from there.

Yep even more of the reason why I don't drive a car. Can't have this happen to a bike.

hehe try to carry a weeks worth of groceries on a bike. or better yet, drop 3 kids off at school on a bike. or go on a date. while its raining. or snowing. bikes arent the shining answer for everything, despite what the spandex riders want everyone to think.

as for cutting the gas line, mine has metal gas lines front to back, youd have to drop the tank to get to a rubber hose. even if you cut the metal one, the diameter pretty much guarantees youll still be lying under my truck when i come out to shoot ya. or toss a match at ya, the accidental explosion would be fun to watch, and my insurance would pay the bill for a new truck. oh, so would your estate. =P
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
If they are stealing $70 in gas I doubt they have much of an "estate" worth suing for.

:)