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Drive-offs growing with fuel prices across area
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The number of people driving off without paying increased last year when gas prices went up. Michael Bupp/The Sentinel
The Carlisle Police Department has been seeing about one instance a week in which a motorist steals fuel by driving away from a gas station without paying, according to Lt. Michael Dzezinski.
“We appear to have more drive-offs in 2007 and thus far in 2008 than in previous years,” Dzezinski said. Gas thefts have always been a problem in the area, he said, but given that the number of drive-offs increased about the same time that gas prices did, it would be a safe bet to assume that the trends are related.
Carlisle isn’t the only municipality where fuel-related crimes have been an issue lately.
Since the beginning of the year, state police have reported the siphoning of large amounts of diesel fuel from trucks or tanks -- 400 gallons in Southampton Township in March and 800 gallons in South Middleton Township in April. In May, gas was reported siphoned from a Perry County vehicle and from a Jeep in Mt. Holly Springs.
In North Newton Township, state police said that in March and May, an oil company reported two instances in which checks from customers were returned because of insufficient funds. And in Middlesex Township, which encompasses the “Miracle Mile” of truck stops between Interstate 81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, police Detective Keith Seibert said drive-offs, which are “kind of a common occurrence,” have not decreased recently.
“The bulk of these drive-offs are occurring at gas stations that don’t require prepayment at the pumps,” Dzezinski said.
He pointed out that according to the Pennsylvania criminal code, someone who steals motor fuel from a station faces, in addition to any other penalty imposed, fines of up to $250 on a first offense, $500 on a second offense and a month-long suspension of driving privileges on a third or subsequent offense.
“I can only assume that the Legislature felt that this issue was enough of a priority that they enumerated separate penalties for theft of gasoline,” Dzezinski said.
One precaution that might occur to motorists is a gas cap lock, designed to prevent siphoning thefts. Judy Walter, an owner of Zimmerman’s Automotive in Upper Allen Township, said that in the past, the store has ordered the devices, which cost about $20, for people who have wanted them. But, Walter said, staff haven’t really noticed a demand for such locks.
Carlisle hasn’t experienced a rash of thefts in which fuel has been siphoned from vehicles, Dzezinski said, but that doesn’t mean the locks are a bad option.
“We’re never going to discourage anyone from doing anything that can add to the security of their property,” he said.
