Eagleeye
Regular Member
imported post
This is slightly OT, but well worth keeping an eye out for.
http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-jun0608-license_plate_gas_thieves.64a2c92.html
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Local thieves stealing license plates to steal gas
[size="-1"]02:21 PM MDT on Friday, June 6, 2008[/size][size="-1"] [/size]
Police see huge spike in gas thefts BOISE - The Boise Police Department is reporting a rise in license plate theft. Department officials say thieves are ripping off license plates – so they can steal gas.
Police are investigating some cases where they say suspects stole license plates, drove to local gas stations, filled up their tanks – then drove off without paying.
"We several cases right now that are pretty significant where they have done a large number of these," Curt Crum with the Boise Police Crime Prevention Unit said.
Crum says gas theft has always been an issue. But he says lately, more people are stealing license plates before they steal gas.
"It's not like we have seen a huge spike but we have a number of cases we are working that do involved stolen license plates," Crum said.
Boise Police have seen enough of a spike that they are taking a proactive step by alerting the public and asking them to be aware.
“How often do people go out and check to see if their license plate is there or check to see that the right plates are on there?” he said. “We have had incidents where they put other plates on there so the driver may not know.”
Those caught stealing can face steep penalties.
“They are looking at the potential for jail time, probation, fines and then of course civil restitution, the business can go after them to recruit their losses,” Crum said. “The bottom line is - it doesn't matter what kind of theft it is, we pay for it, because there is only one way to recoup those losses and that’s just to tack it on to the honest customer.”
Crum says most gas stations now have enhanced surveillance systems and he says that makes it hard for thieves to get away with the crime.
Crum said one thing not helping the theft problem is that there are still some local gas stations that do not require the customer to prepay.
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Might also be an idea to Get a locking fuel cap, I have a feeling siphoning will be starting soon if it already hasn't.
This is slightly OT, but well worth keeping an eye out for.
http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-jun0608-license_plate_gas_thieves.64a2c92.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local thieves stealing license plates to steal gas
[size="-1"]02:21 PM MDT on Friday, June 6, 2008[/size][size="-1"] [/size]
Police see huge spike in gas thefts BOISE - The Boise Police Department is reporting a rise in license plate theft. Department officials say thieves are ripping off license plates – so they can steal gas.
Police are investigating some cases where they say suspects stole license plates, drove to local gas stations, filled up their tanks – then drove off without paying.
"We several cases right now that are pretty significant where they have done a large number of these," Curt Crum with the Boise Police Crime Prevention Unit said.
Crum says gas theft has always been an issue. But he says lately, more people are stealing license plates before they steal gas.
"It's not like we have seen a huge spike but we have a number of cases we are working that do involved stolen license plates," Crum said.
Boise Police have seen enough of a spike that they are taking a proactive step by alerting the public and asking them to be aware.
“How often do people go out and check to see if their license plate is there or check to see that the right plates are on there?” he said. “We have had incidents where they put other plates on there so the driver may not know.”
Those caught stealing can face steep penalties.
“They are looking at the potential for jail time, probation, fines and then of course civil restitution, the business can go after them to recruit their losses,” Crum said. “The bottom line is - it doesn't matter what kind of theft it is, we pay for it, because there is only one way to recoup those losses and that’s just to tack it on to the honest customer.”
Crum says most gas stations now have enhanced surveillance systems and he says that makes it hard for thieves to get away with the crime.
Crum said one thing not helping the theft problem is that there are still some local gas stations that do not require the customer to prepay.
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Might also be an idea to Get a locking fuel cap, I have a feeling siphoning will be starting soon if it already hasn't.