GAS THEFT | Fuel-siphoning may be surging, so sales of locking caps are soaring

July 21, 2008Recommend (4)

BY KARA SPAK Staff Reporter/kspak@suntimes.com
Les Kniskern parked his truck in his Lincoln Square alley space July 11 with the gas tank nearly full.

When he tried to start it the next day, he found the 20-gallon tank totally drained.

» Click to enlarge image Les Kniskern has ordered a locking gas cap after someone siphoned $70 worth of gas out of his parked truck in Lincoln Square. Locking gas cap sales are surging along with gas prices, say auto parts retailers.
(Richard A. Chapman/Sun-Times)



"Somebody just popped [the gas cap] open, stuck a hose in and siphoned it off," Kniskern said, estimating he lost as much as $70 worth of gas. "I'm presuming they just filled their own tank and drove off."

Gas siphoning, that scourge of the 1970s, may be making a comeback.

Chicago Police don't keep statistics on gas theft. Officers said they haven't seen an uptick in reports of siphoning or tank puncturing, though it may be people aren't reporting such a small theft.

Still, gas theft -- or at least the fear of it -- is causing a surge in the sale of locking gas caps.

The caps, which cost between $10 and $30, are designed to keep gas in the tank and siphon hoses out.

Stant Manufacturing, believed to be the largest U.S. producer of gas caps, said it currently is filling four times the normal order rate for the locking caps.

"Every time we think we get caught up, we get a big batch of orders in," said Chris Hoffman, Stant spokesman. "Ever since we hit the $3.50 [per gallon] mark, the demand on locking gas caps is very high."

At auto parts retailer AutoZone, locking gas cap sales are up 50 percent over the last three months, said Ray Pohlman, AutoZone spokesman. Advance Auto Parts is also seeing brisker-than-normal sales, a spokeswoman said.

"More and more people are protecting their investment," Pohlman said, noting that sales spiked when gas hit the $2, $3 and $4 per gallon milestones.

The caps aren't foolproof, but Hoffman said they can provide some low-cost peace of mind.

Kniskern serves as chief of staff to state Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), who is proposing a bill to increase the penalty for gas theft.

Fritchey wants gas siphoning to be treated as a Class 4 felony, punishable by up to three years in prison. Currently, gas theft is treated as a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine or up to a year in the county jail.
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Unfortunatly gas tank puncturing has been on the rise as well. Had a guy on a talk show this morning who had this happen. 78 to tow, the loss of the full tank of gas, almost 500 for the new gas tank and then was told you made be responsible for any hazmat crews doing clean-up if gas leaks on the ground. Alot your car insurance won't cover. He said he'd rather open the fuel door and leave a hose than to have all this damage and expense. Not to mention he wasn't in a good neighborhood when this happened to him and is fearful for what it might have ment if his wife or daughter was left stranded like that. They've been hitting the park and ride lots here. They don't even mess with siphoning, they just puncture the tank.