Gas stations seeing more drive-offs in Elkhart

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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Elkhart police say since the beginning of January, they have received 55 reported cases of people leaving gas stations without paying. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Apr 24, 2008 at 3:31 PM EST

Story Updated: Apr 27, 2008 at 2:49 PM EST

ELKHART — Rising fuel prices are causing major headaches for gas stations around the area. More people are filling up and driving off without paying. The stations end up taking the loss.

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"We had a lot of gas drive-offs here recently and it can cost us thousands a year,” said Laurie Blake, who works at a gas station in the Elkhart area.

Blake and other station co-workers are seeing more customers fill up and drive off.

“They're making it very hard for the ones we trust, they’re making it hard for us to be able to trust anybody, you know, the ones who steal,” she said. “It’s getting very bad out there.”

Elkhart police say since the beginning of January, they have received 55 reported cases of drive-offs with amounts varying anywhere from $20 to over $60.

Many of these crimes are happening at stations that do not require customers to prepay.

“If you're not forced to pay before you pump your gas, it becomes a problem because it’s such a high dollar item,” said Elkhart Police Lt. Ed Windbigler. “Several of the gas stations are prepay. You know quite honestly if owned a gas station, I'd be prepay."

“Well, what’s going to happen, and it’s not very customer friendly, is we may end up having to go prepay all the time, instead of after dark,” Blake said. “And this is due to people who want to steal."

Bristol police recently arrested a teenager for stealing gas during drive-offs, at several area stations. He was caught on tape.

"We had video camera surveillance, we we're able to get the vehicle description and then also describe the person that actually did the theft,” said Bristol Police Chief Mike Swallow.

As prices continue to go up, they believe the same will be true for the number of drive-offs.

Stealing gas is a class D felony You could also lose your license.

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