Why Desperate Car Thieves Are Now ‘Drilling’ For Gas

Auto-related crimes have risen dramatically throughout the pandemic era, with a record 936,315 being reported last year. The “hottest” transgressions of late have been catalytic converter thefts, which increased by more than 1,200 percent over the last three years, and carjackings, of which some major cities have seen up to a fivefold surge.

And it should come as no surprise that concurrent with the recent spike in fuel prices, the National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that gasoline thefts, one of the most wretched examples of car crimes, are appearing on local law enforcement agencies’ radar.

Unlike the fuel shortages that plagued motorists during the 1970’s, where determined individuals were known to easily siphon a gallon or two from a parked car to keep their rides running, today’s thieves leave behind some significant damage for their ill-gotten efforts.

That’s because today’s cars are engineered with what’s called a “rollover valve” that helps prevent gasoline from perilously leaking onto the pavement should the vehicle flip over in a collision. As it turns out, that technology also makes it prohibitively challenging to simply siphon fuel from the tank.

The NICB reports that petty crooks have begin drilling directly into parked cars’ gas tanks to drain the liquid gold. That not only leaves an owner without several gallons of gas, but triggers steep repair bills to have the tank replaced. According to the auto service website RepairPal.com, the average cost involved is in the $1,300-$1,400 range, not counting taxes and fees or any necessary related repairs.

According to the AAA, larger vehicles like full-size SUVs and pickup trucks are more-frequently targeted because of their larger fuel capacities which, in the case of the Ford F-150 pickup, tops out at 36 gallons. For those keeping score it would take $180 to fill a tank that large with regular-grade gas at $5,00 per gallon.

What’s more, fuel theft is not a crime that’s limited to just petty thieves. More-sophisticated bandits are going straight to the source for higher-volume fuel thefts. The NICB reports several cases in which crooks are swiping petroleum by hacking into gas pumps via various means, even swiping it directly from storage tanks, and selling it to area motorists at considerably less than retail prices.

“Nowhere has the escalation of crime across the nation been more apparent than with auto crime,” says David Glawe, president and CEO of the National Insurance Crime Bureau. “Crime is a business, and the business of auto-related crimes is very good in many of our neighborhoods.”

For its part, the NICB advises consumers to take common sense precautions to help prevent their vehicles from becoming targets. That means parking in a closed garage when possible, or at least in well-lit and well-populated high-visibility areas, preferably with security cameras present. Motorists are advised to check for puddles beneath their vehicles and check the fuel gauge before attempting to drive off with what could be an empty, and potential dangerously damaged, gas tank.