Summer heat, prices could increase local fuel and flee thefts

Escalating prices at the pump seem to be the motive for the increasing amount of fuel and flee thefts at local gas stations. The increase in gas prices during the last few years results from a continuing energy crisis where the consumer demand for gasoline is surpassing the available resources of fuel.\nGas station owners find that these gas thefts happen more frequently during hectic business hours. Attendants find that they will see a car pull up to a pump island that is difficult for them to see. They are occupied with the customers at the counter so they can't keep their attention focused on the gas pumps. When the attendants look over to the pump island again, they find that the car has vanished and the gas pump is lying on the ground. \nThese thefts can range in price anywhere from $8-$30. Although the monetary theft is usually minimal, two to three thefts a month can add up to almost a hundred dollars in losses for gas station owners.\n"It is common for the station to get two to three calls a day concerning a gasoline theft," Sergeant Bill Parker of the Bloomington Police Department said.\nParker also finds that because the attendants usually get a vehicle description and license plate number it is fairly easy to catch the guilty parties. But without either of these, Parker said it "just becomes a matter of luck."\nOnce the perpetrators are caught the penalty depends on the gas station owner. A gas-and-go theft may range from paying the money due to more legal ramifications if the owner decides to press charges. In Indiana, gasoline theft is considered a Class D felony punishable with up to two years in prison.\nIn order to lessen these types of thefts, gas station owners have tried to implement preventative measures. Gas stations ask customers to prepay before they pump their gas. The stations are removing items on the counter that could obstruct the view of attendants. The attendants are also trying to be more attentive to the customers.\nAlthough gas thefts seem to be increasing in central Indiana and highway gas stations, according to local gas station owners, gas thefts do not seem to be much of a problem in Bloomington.\nIn fact, Clint Maggard, owner of Swifty Service Station located at 2200 W. Third St., boasts, "We don't have any drive-offs."\nJack Walker, owner of Walker's Amoco located at 3205 E. Third St., said his service station experiences the occasional drive-off two to three times a month, which seems to be typical for most local gas stations.\nAlthough most owners are not worried about gas thefts at the moment, they also recognize that gas prices are shooting up.\n"The way that gasoline prices are rising, the number of gas thefts are also going to increase," said Merv Pritchard, owner of Pritchard's Service Center at 601 E. 10th Street.