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Thieves Give Up on Siphoning Gas, Now Drilling Holes in Tanks to Steal the Fuel

They say desperate times call for desperate measures, and thieves in the United States seem to fully agree with this pearl of wisdom.
Police claim thieves use power tools to drill the holes in a few seconds 7 photos
Photo: Everett Police Department
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The police in Everett, Washington have warned that thieves are turning to a crazy new method to steal gas from cars on the street: they drill holes right in the tank and then wait for the fuel to drain.

In other words, they have pretty much given up on the old way of siphoning the gas, mostly because it’s a lot more efficient to use a power tool and quickly drill a hole in the tank.

At the same time, any vehicle parked on the street could be a target, and thieves would no longer have to waste any time finding a way to remove the fuel cap and insert a hose in the tank. Most of them probably use battery-powered tools that need just a few seconds to drill a hole, after which they use bottles or other recipients to collect the fuel.

The Everett police claim it’s all because of the skyrocketing gas prices, and the only way to protect your car against this new trend is to park it in a garage. If this isn’t possible, make sure the vehicle is sitting in a well-lit area where it’d be harder for a thief to escape unnoticed.

Needless to say, law enforcement tells anyone to call 911 not only when they hear or see suspicious activity but also if they notice their tanks have been damaged.

It goes without saying the costs of repairing a gas tank that has a hole in it are much higher than getting a full refill. Given the skyrocketing gas prices, however, this may no longer be valid for too long.

Earlier this week, Washington residents had to pay, on average, $4.54 per gallon, while gas prices in Nevada reached a record $4.62 per gallon. For comparison, the prices have almost doubled in just one year, as U.S. drivers had to pay on average just a bit shy of $2.50 per gallon in early 2021.
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
Bogdan Popa profile photo

Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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