High gas prices are leading people to steal "precious fuel" from gas tanks of parked cars. State Police say someone took $30 worth of gas from a car parked on Pottsville Street in Wiconisco Township in Dauphin County.
Auto parts dealers say the answer, is locking gas caps.
Oil prices rose by 27 percent from late June through mid-September to nearly $3.93 a gallon. By the end of the month it dropped 10 cents.
Today the lowest price is $3.86 a gallon.
Jeffrey Brinkman the Manager of the Hummelstown NAPA store has been selling auto parts for nearly 40 years. He says the locking gas cap is the best prevention to having gas stolen from your tank. He says as gas prices spike, so does the sale of the gas caps. “We do get a letter from the chief of police to tell us to be aware as the gas prices are going up be aware of people stealing gas. As the gas prices continue to rise that’s an issue that could be a problem.”
Brinkman says unfortunately stealing gas is easy, “If it doesn’t have a locking gas cap on, it’s not very long. Slide a rubber hose in there. You’re all set. It’s not an issue to do it.”
The cost of a locking gas cap ranges from $12 to $15. Another thing you can do to prevent theft is to park the car in a well lit area or locked garage.
There might be some good news in the future, analysts predict the average price for gas will be $3.50 per gallon or lower by Thanksgiving for most of the country.
Gas prices are expected to be closer to $4 a gallon.
Economists say for the second straight month gas prices increased by a little more than a percent in September. In contrast, food prices rose by only two-tenths of one percent.
Auto parts dealers say the answer, is locking gas caps.
Oil prices rose by 27 percent from late June through mid-September to nearly $3.93 a gallon. By the end of the month it dropped 10 cents.
Today the lowest price is $3.86 a gallon.
Jeffrey Brinkman the Manager of the Hummelstown NAPA store has been selling auto parts for nearly 40 years. He says the locking gas cap is the best prevention to having gas stolen from your tank. He says as gas prices spike, so does the sale of the gas caps. “We do get a letter from the chief of police to tell us to be aware as the gas prices are going up be aware of people stealing gas. As the gas prices continue to rise that’s an issue that could be a problem.”
Brinkman says unfortunately stealing gas is easy, “If it doesn’t have a locking gas cap on, it’s not very long. Slide a rubber hose in there. You’re all set. It’s not an issue to do it.”
The cost of a locking gas cap ranges from $12 to $15. Another thing you can do to prevent theft is to park the car in a well lit area or locked garage.
There might be some good news in the future, analysts predict the average price for gas will be $3.50 per gallon or lower by Thanksgiving for most of the country.
Gas prices are expected to be closer to $4 a gallon.
Economists say for the second straight month gas prices increased by a little more than a percent in September. In contrast, food prices rose by only two-tenths of one percent.