Gas Thieves Target Tanks Around Bay Area

(KCBS) -- As gas prices climb, so do the number of gas thefts.   

Many Bay Area residents have reported leaving their car either overnight or for a day at work at the local Bart station only to return and find the gas tank drained.

KCBS' Holly Quan reports many vehicle owners are now turning to locking gas caps.

This Oakland resident discovered her tank was empty when she walked out of her Oakland home Thursday morning. She told Quan she's buying a locking gas cap.

"It's bad enough the gas prices are so high, but then you put your gas in for someone else to come and steal. They'll probably figure out a way to get this off, but at least they'll have to take more time to do it."

Gas cap sales are soaring throughout the region as people take measures to protect their petrol.

At least three times last month, Bay Area Rapid Transit Spokesman Linton Johnson said riders have come back from a day at work to find their gas cap open and their gas tank slightly drained.

It's happened at the Pleasant Hill, Fruitvale and Fremont stations.

"These persons saw maybe a quarter to half a tank gone," said Johnson.

"Somebody's going around and trying to get free gas. And patrons should buy locking gas caps. If it's happening at Bart locks, I'm sure it's happening somewhere else," Johnson said.

The last time Bart saw gas thefts like these was ten years ago. One Fruitvale Bart user told Quan, he already put a lock on his tank. "During last gas crunch, siphoning was a national pastime."

Bart Spokesman Johnson said security patrols are keeping their eyes open for thieves and then there's always the eye in the sky.

"They have cameras in the parking lot. If you steal some gas, you might be caught on tape doing it," Johnson said.

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