Jul 11, 2008 8:07 pm US/Pacific
Gas Thieves Use New Tactic To Keep Prices Low
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Bold gas crooks pry open pump coverings to manually manipulate the final price charged for filling up.
CBS
With sky-high gas prices, thieves have come up with a bold new way to steal fuel, right at the pump.
CBS station WBBM-TV in Chicago reports police and gas stations are now catching on to the scam.
Surveillance video captured the scam in progress. While a man in front tried to block the view of the camera a second man behind him reaches his hand inside the pump.
"I could see nothing was being moved, no dollars were being run up," said B.P. Amoco attendant Steve. "So I wanted to see what was going on maybe they were having problems at the pump."
Steve was working at the Park Ridge B.P. Amoco and by the time he got out there, the pump was back together and the final charge was just $3. He didn't realize until later the suspects got away with a full tank of gas.
The same scam has been taking place at the Shell station next door. Owner Joe Paglini says thousands of gallons of gas have been stolen since March. Once the door is pried open, the thieves figured out how to mechanically stop the pump from charging, while gas is still flowing.
"And then put it all back together and the machine would not register inside or outside," Paglini said.
Park Ridge police arrested two suspects, Adrian Martinez and Dennis Djirackor, at the Shell on Touhy Avenue earlier this week. However, it's believed several teams of thieves may be at work.
"Every station I have checked with in this area has broken cabinets and they are also realizing there is some shortage of gasoline," Paglini said.
That's why police are trying to get the word out, warning gas stations to be on alert.
Bolts have now been installed at all the pumps at the Park Ridge Shell to prevent tampering. Gas station owners and attendants all over the Chicago area are advised to pay closer attention than ever to security cameras.
Police say the suspects hit gas stations in Park Ridge and Des Plaines. They're charged with stealing gas and damaging property.
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