Protect your vehicle from gas theft
These steps could help to prevent thieves from siphoning out your vehicle's gas.
Thieves have found a new target: the gasoline from your vehicle. When the price of gas rises, so do the number of gas-theft incidents. Here's how you can help protect your vehicle and your pocketbook:
- Always park in well-lit, well-traveled locations.
- Park in your garage or driveway whenever possible. If you have to park in the street, do so under street lighting near your house.
- Avoid parking in public places for extended periods of time. For example, rather than leaving your car in the airport parking lot for a week, ask a friend or neighbor for a ride.
- Position your vehicle so the fuel door is seen from a main road.
- Consider installing a locking gas cap, even if your fuel door locks.
- Remember to call 911 if you see suspicious behavior, such as someone putting a siphon into a gas tank or acting strangely around parked cars.
How to tell if someone is siphoning your gas
It can be difficult to tell if your gas has been siphoned. The best way to tell is to keep track of your fuel level before you leave your car and make sure the level hasn't changed when you return. If you do have a locking gas cap, there might be scratches or damage on it where thieves attempted to access your gas.
