Police cracking down on gas drive-offs in Elkhartby Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)
Police say they are seeing more drive-offs at gas stations in Elkhart. (WSBT photo) ELKHART — Elkhart police are cracking down on drivers who take off without paying for gas. They arrested Brian Kilmer and Katrina Carter for stealing about $140 worth of gas in two separate drive-offs. With money tight, police say more drivers are willing to risk stealing at the pumps. “We're trying to be more proactive because of the economy and the layoffs,” Barb Turney told WSBT News. Turney manages Hucks Gas Station on Elkhart's south side. She says many stations are dealing with a surge in drive-offs. Money is tight for some as the result of company downsizing and a jump in gas and food prices. "When people don't have the money to pay, they're going to come in and be sneaky and get the fuel,” Turney explained. “I've seen it where they'll come in with their hooded jackets and you know where they get in their cars and they have no plate on their car or an illegal plate." “Part of the reason could be the economy, just because there are more people without jobs this year than there were last year,” said Elkhart Police Lt. Ed Windbigler. “Some people become desperate and will take that risk of driving off with gas." In each and every case where there is a drive-off, if the station can not recoup the money from the stolen gas, it has to shoulder the loss itself. “It's a theft and it decreases our income,” Turney said. “It's a loss for the company." But many stations are becoming more vigilant in watching for drive-offs and finding ways to get the description or license plates of the thieves to police. "It gives us more information to work the case, which means more people are going to be arrested or restitution given back to the gas station,” Windbigler said. Turney says they stopped one driver on his seventh attempt to drive off without paying. She claims he was responsible for taking $320 in stolen gas. Thursday, Aug 28 at 12:12 PM MM wrote ...prepay is a pain if you use cash. I have a debit card because I hate going in to pay. so pre pay pumps are ok with me. go pre pay or risk drive offs. Thursday, Aug 28 at 10:34 AM Penofmyuncle wrote ...Can you say "lazy" clerks? Can you say "If I can steal it, it's mine?" Can you train your minimum wage employee to say, "Pay first or go away"? Too many murderers to chase, take care of your business and let what few police we have left to their business... Thursday, Aug 28 at 7:39 AM Bob wrote ...RE.Pre-pay. Why do I have to be penalized because of some low-life stealing gas? Officers: you have my permission to shoot or hang the offenders. Wednesday, Aug 27 at 4:39 PM DJG.OSCEOLA wrote ...SO DO YOU THINK ? IF THEY ARE CAUGHT IN ST'JOE COUNTY THEY POSSIBLY COULD BE SHOT?? I THINK ALL STATIONS SHOULD BE ''PREPAY''THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE WHOLE PROBLEM..... Wednesday, Aug 27 at 4:16 PM Anon wrote ...As much as I hate, it make the pumps prepay and the problem is gone Wednesday, Aug 27 at 4:00 PM R wrote ...Don't the people at the counter control the pumps being on/off? Wouldn't an easy solution be pre pay or pay at the pump? Add a comment |
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Thursday, Aug 28 at 4:07 PM Super Genius wrote ...
Let's pass a law that we have to have our own gas pump at our home. With a special code and key. The truck comes around and fills it up once a month. Now, that will stop the drive offs once and for all!