5 ms·

> “The stations know they’re buying stolen gas,” Scarince said. “They’re fully aware the fuel is not coming from a legitimate source. There’s never any paperwor

> “The stations know they’re buying stolen gas,” Scarince said. “They’re fully aware the fuel is not coming from a legitimate source. There’s never any paperwork with the fuel driver, and these transactions are missing all the elements of a normal, legitimate transaction between what would be a refinery and a gas station.” This seems like the easiest way to tackle this problem (aside from chip cards). I doubt it would take much pressure on these guys to get the market for this to dry up, or at least considerably reduce the profitability. I'd guess the gas station owners have a lot more to lose than the thieves actually stealing gas.

mschuster91 11y ago
You have to prove that they accepted stolen gas. Which isn't exactly easy, given the number of gas stations. Also, the Mafia is experienced at moving and selling drugs in larger quantities than the gas thefts here - I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't any "neighborhood fuel delivery services".
staunch 11y ago
Selling stolen gas should be penalized with a lifetime ban on owning or operating a gas station.
- lucaspiller 11y ago
  I'm surprised that running a gas station isn't more regulated, i.e. being required to provide reports of how much has been sold, how much has been delivered, and who it was purchased from (and eventually using ANPR to say who bought how much :D).
TwoBit 11y ago
If that were the case then the same approach might stop cooper theftvas well.
- FireBeyond 11y ago
  As a firefighter, this is an issue around here (Washington state). People steal the brass end caps off hydrants. Dozens of them. Sell them to scrap metal places. That conversation, I'm certain, doesn't go like "Oh, hey, I'm Bob from the Fire Department, getting rid of old hydrant caps" "Oh, sure! Sounds legit, Bob, let me give you some cash!"
- jon-wood 11y ago
  Indeed, let's tackle that big problem of barrel parts being stolen before it becomes an epidemic!

mschuster91 11y ago

You have to prove that they accepted stolen gas. Which isn't exactly easy, given the number of gas stations. Also, the Mafia is experienced at moving and selling drugs in larger quantities than the gas thefts here - I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't any "neighborhood fuel delivery services".

staunch 11y ago

Selling stolen gas should be penalized with a lifetime ban on owning or operating a gas station.

lucaspiller 11y ago
I'm surprised that running a gas station isn't more regulated, i.e. being required to provide reports of how much has been sold, how much has been delivered, and who it was purchased from (and eventually using ANPR to say who bought how much :D).

TwoBit 11y ago

If that were the case then the same approach might stop cooper theftvas well.

FireBeyond 11y ago
As a firefighter, this is an issue around here (Washington state). People steal the brass end caps off hydrants. Dozens of them. Sell them to scrap metal places. That conversation, I'm certain, doesn't go like "Oh, hey, I'm Bob from the Fire Department, getting rid of old hydrant caps" "Oh, sure! Sounds legit, Bob, let me give you some cash!"
jon-wood 11y ago
Indeed, let's tackle that big problem of barrel parts being stolen before it becomes an epidemic!