More gasoline thefts; man suffers third degree burns in siphoning accident

Morton Grove, IL, May 1, 2011

The high cost of gasoline continues to push people into desperate measures. A San Francisco television reporter decided to bypass contacting the police and instead spoke to a car expert:

We see an increase of fuel theft in throughout Danville, throughout the whole Contra Costa area as fuel prices rise," said "Bear" Matoza, owner of the Danville Automotive and Hardware store.

Customers are coming to the store to buy locking gas caps. Sales have doubled. Locking caps protect more than gasoline, they protect the car because siphoning can do some major damage.

"The harm it does to a car with a hose going into the fuel tank, you can't get the hose out. There is a one-way valve. So once you push it in, now you have to have a mechanic come remove the hose," said Matoza.

Body shops are picking up some business too because it isn't just the inside of the gas tank that can be damaged, but also the outside of the car.

In Arizona, two men, who also told police they were smoking marijuana and meth, were arrested after they admitted they were planning to siphon gasoline from cars.

In Springfield, Massachusetts, a man probably realized that he paid a dollar a gallon less for the gasoline in his snowblower. He decided to siphon it out, but he used an electric shop vacuum which caused an explosion. He's being treated for third degree burns. Last month I reported on accidental gasoline-swallowing incidents involving siphoning.

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Siphoning: High gasoline prices making people literally sick; gas thefts up

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