Thieves across the country have been stealing gas and reselling it amid nationwide surging prices.
QUICK FACTS:
- Criminals in the United States have been stealing gas by physically taking it from pumps and other vehicles or by hacking networks of certain gas retailers, Fox News reported.
- “These are thieves. They are not robbing from the rich and giving to the poor,” Jeff Lenard, vice president of strategic industry initiatives at the National Association of Convenience Stores, said. “The gas station owner is the least responsible for high prices. The cost of theft gets passed on in higher prices, and when people are driving around with unsecured stolen fuel, it is a concern to anybody.”
- Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration revealed about 25% of gas retailers have experienced an increase in gas theft compared to last year.
GAS STATION OWNERS SUFFERING AS A RESULT:
“Even though stealing oil might be helping people or getting free gas, this is really a bad thing for these gas station owners,” Terry Kim, Air Force veteran co-founder of NGT Academy said.
BACKGROUND:
- Earlier this month, police discovered “numerous vehicles” were using devices to pump gas from a Citgo station that was currently closed in Virginia.
- “During the officers’ preliminary investigation, it was determined that devices were being used to illegally access gas pumps,” the Virginia Beach Police Department said. “Individuals were then selling the gasoline at a discounted rate through a phone application and had advertised the operation on social media. It was determined that thousands of dollars worth of gasoline was stolen from the business over several days.”
- Under the Biden administration, Americans are paying an average of $1.82 more for gas than they were a year ago.