Do you have locking gas caps?

Do you have locking gas caps? (Full Version)

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[Poll]

NO (I'm not worried about gas thieves)

29% (9)

HMMM.... (maybe I will look into this)

22% (7)

YES ... (we have locking gas caps)

22% (7)

OTHER ... (we take other steps to prevent theft)

12% (4)

OTHER ... (I just don't see gas theft as a big issue)

12% (4)

Total Votes : 31

(last vote on : 7/5/2008 5:02:33 AM)
(Poll will run till: -- )

Message

Harvie -> Do you have locking gas caps? (6/23/2008 12:51:14 PM)
I was watching our local news last night and they were talking about the huge increase in thefts of gasoline from people's gas tanks when they were parked in front of their homes, and at the movies, and at the malls, and even at the grocery store. EEEEK! It made me wonder if I should purchase locking gas caps for both of our vehicles -- especially with gas priced at $4.69 a gallon here. And I was wondering if I should get ones specific to our make/model of car, or just see what they have at the local auto parts store. Are you taking steps to protect your gas?

LCannon -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/23/2008 1:11:31 PM)
My truck has a lock it's little door but no locking cap however there's a locked gate before a thief gets to it plus the little door is on the passenger side and I park pretty close to that wall. Usually thief is a crime of opportunity not planning but easy pickings.

Miss Giggles -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/23/2008 1:16:13 PM)
Not really My car comes with a locking gas cap, and its too low to the ground for someone to go underneath it and drill a hole on it. Esp since there are other trucks in the parking lot with a bigger tank. The cars that are getting the gas stolen out are SUVs and other big trucks where someone can get more gas out of the tank, or buses, etc.

Harvie -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/23/2008 1:25:35 PM)
According to our local news, over 40 people had gas stolen from their cars Sunday afternoon at a local movie theater parking lot ... eeek! They report similar thefts in grocery store and Costco parking lots.... all happening in broad daylight! Sheesh.... I hate criminals.

garsyt -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/23/2008 2:00:30 PM)
hubby has a locking cap on his car, but we don't on my van. At home the van is parked in the garage pretty much all the time and if its in the driveway someone is usually outside. Hubby's car is often parked for HOURS on end in a college parking lot or a library parking lot both of which have seen a rise in gas thefts lately. My van usually doesn't have enough gas in to bother with. [;)] The only place my van is parked for more then an hours time would be at school in the fall and there I usually park as close to the security cameras on the building as I can and being where our school is located (in the middle of BIG open area with NO other buildings around it YET. We typically just don't get odd traffic in the school's parking lot) chances are SOMEONE would notice suspicious activity and do something about it rather quickly. Blessings, Garsy

stellaluna -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/23/2008 2:09:02 PM)
My husband and I both have locking gas caps because both of our cars are left unattended for days at a time. If someone REALLY wants to steal the gas and they're willing to drill into the tank, there's nothing we can do about that. This way we just make our cars less attractive.

bzirk -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/23/2008 2:13:15 PM)
I don't have one, but I might get one. A friend of ours who lives in a subdivision less than a mile from us had gas theft on her street. Someone siphoned the gas out of three large pickups. I was a little surprised since the crime rate around here is almost non-existent. Let me put it this way. The weekly newspaper prints the "crime report" for the week every Wednesday. It's full of stuff like "a dog was barking at _____ Hollow Drive," or "neighbor called about suspicious person in the 400 block of Jefferson ave," and on and on. If anything ever does happen, everyone knows about it long before the newspaper comes out on Wednesday. LOL!

peace77 -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/23/2008 7:45:05 PM)
I've considered it but I saw on the news that a woman found that someone had drilled a hole into her gas tank. In that case, a locking gas cap isn't going to help. Then, there was the gas of the not-too-bright fellow who tried to siphon gas from an RV. Well, the neighbors saw it and called the police. The fellow was trying to start the siphoning with his mouth and had tapped into a full sewage tank instead of the gas tank. The owner came out to find the fellow getting sick on the lawn. The police asked the owner if he wanted to press charges and the owner declined saying he thought the would-be crook had been through enough already. Perhaps PRAYER is the best protection. Peace, Anne

bzirk -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/23/2008 8:31:46 PM)
If someone is determined to steal something, it's almost impossible to keep them from doing it. But thieves usually go for the easiest targets, so if there is a locked gas cap, chances are they will move on to the next vehicle in hope of it being much easier to break into.

phosadaud -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/23/2008 9:53:00 PM)
My car already has a locking cap and thieves wouldn't get much gas from it anyway because it's a small car. However, we did have to purchases locking caps for our church vehicles after having gas siphoned from them on several occasions... [:@]

garsyt -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/23/2008 10:10:44 PM)
quote: The fellow was trying to start the siphoning with his mouth and had tapped into a full sewage tank instead of the gas tank. The owner came out to find the fellow getting sick on the lawn. The police asked the owner if he wanted to press charges and the owner declined saying he thought the would-be crook had been through enough already. Now that is hilarious! Blessings, Garsy

redeemedsaint -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/24/2008 9:29:40 AM)
No, I don't. I have to open the gas cover from the inside, so no locking gas cap necessary.

Consecrated2God -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/24/2008 10:39:49 AM)
No, but we've never had anyone steal gas from us, either. If someone did, we'd probably run out and buy a locking gas cap.

HighPlainsDrifter -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/24/2008 10:54:52 AM)
I've thought about investing in a lock for our car tanks, then I heard a news story last night about thieves punching holes in tanks to steal gas. If I'm going to get gas siphoned, I'd just as soon not get my tank punched, so I'm inclined to leave it open. We live in a very low crime area, though, and I'm not really very worried about it.

Roberta_ -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/24/2008 10:56:46 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: peace77 I've considered it but I saw on the news that a woman found that someone had drilled a hole into her gas tank. In that case, a locking gas cap isn't going to help. Then, there was the gas of the not-too-bright fellow who tried to siphon gas from an RV. Well, the neighbors saw it and called the police. The fellow was trying to start the siphoning with his mouth and had tapped into a full sewage tank instead of the gas tank. The owner came out to find the fellow getting sick on the lawn. The police asked the owner if he wanted to press charges and the owner declined saying he thought the would-be crook had been through enough already. Perhaps PRAYER is the best protection. Peace, Anne LOL! I sure hope he learned his lesson! I have a locking gas cap because it came with my van.

bluestone -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/24/2008 11:01:48 AM)
The gas door locks on mine. I decided not to fill up, but keep a lower amount in the tank. That way they won't steal as much if they try. I have to get gas more often, but I would rather they siphon a 1/4 tank than a full one.

karlie -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/24/2008 11:16:33 AM)
Both our cars came with locking gas caps and doors that have to open from the inside of the car, so it's a double deterrent. I live in a very low crime area, but several people on the college campus I attend have had their gas siphoned while in class, so I would be investing in one if my car didn't already have it. Plus, safe area or not, as people get more desperate to afford gas to get to work, we're going to see an increase of gas being stolen. I'm personally not nearly as worried about someone drilling holes in my tank. It's much more time consuming and difficult, making the thieves more likely to get caught. From what I've read, most thieves won't bother with that, but just move onto the next car with an unlocked tank.

Galilee -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/24/2008 12:32:38 PM)
Exactly. It's like a car stereo. If you have a detachable face plate, even if you leave the faceplate in the car (but out of the radio itself, and put away in something so it is unseen), most criminals will go to the next car. Sure it mIGHT be there in the car, but it's easier to just move on. quote: ORIGINAL: bzirk If someone is determined to steal something, it's almost impossible to keep them from doing it. But thieves usually go for the easiest targets, so if there is a locked gas cap, chances are they will move on to the next vehicle in hope of it being much easier to break into.

Galilee -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/24/2008 12:34:24 PM)
I guess the other thought is, if someone IS going to steal the gas, isn't it better to have the gas cap removed than th have them drill a hole. That is a much costlier fix after the fact.

PatricksPeaches -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/24/2008 2:07:32 PM)
It is funny that I found this thread. We had our gas syphoned just last week. I live in a mobile home park and I am not the only one this had happened to. Also, we have had our sheds broke into and gas cans stolen. Not my shed but my neighbors. It is sad that we have to go to such measures to keep people out of our property. My husband bought a locking gas cap and makes sure our shed is locked at all times. Still, if they want it, they will find a way to get it!!!

phosadaud -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/24/2008 3:23:53 PM)
I think it's true that if someone really wants something, they will find a way to get it, but most thieves are looking for the easy route. Sure, someone could bust my car window up and steal my car, but 99% of the time, they will look for the car with the door unlocked... [;)]

amymelissa -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/24/2008 7:37:02 PM)
I voted Yes, but only because my car came with it. It's a 1998 Holden Barina. I didn't think that locked petrol-caps were rare. I know that all of my friends/parents/relatives cars have a level at the drivers seat where you pop open the petrol cap when you need to fill up. On another note, a friend of mine, probably about 20 years ago built a high-performance car and so it had very high (something) fuel in it - not for normal cars anyway. So he left it out to see if it would get cyphened (they were havinga bit of a problem with some guy in the area). It did and blew up the guys engine when he tried to start it. Serves him right I guess.

PrincessDonna -> RE: Do you have locking gas caps? (6/24/2008 7:45:19 PM)
No, we don't have locking gas caps. Hubby's work has a fenced in parking lot. We have a good watch dog and a gun at home.[8D] Plus, the car's tank is pretty small (Subaru) and the van rarely has more than 1/2 tank in it anyway. My dad had a gas can stolen. It had chainsaw gas in it...50/50 gas and oil. Wonder if the car still runs...LOL.

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