SoCal thieves drill into vehicles to steal gas

An Inland Empire resident is warning others after thieves targeted and destroyed her vehicle just to steal gasoline. She discovered her truck had been damaged after thieves drilled two holes into her fuel tank to empty it.

KTLA's Shelby Nelson reports on September 27, 2024.

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[BOMBON]

$4000 to change a gas tank seems like a separate crime itself.

[soniagalindo]

It's like with the catalytic converters. They have little to gain but the victim has a ridiculous amount to pay. 🤬

[SAPPER]

Those police tips are useless.

Here's a tip...stop being soft on crime and stop the compassion for criminals.

[XXtheJUMPoffXX]

They do all that damage just for some gas? Pathetic

[maestrovso]

That is not gas syphoning. It is gas draining. The reporter doesn't know the meanings of the two verbs.

[rkm]

I had my catalytic converter stolen from my truck while I was at work as well, sick and tired of these damn thieves.

[troy.peters]

Police aren't going to do anything.

[tazmod]

That alarm system won’t do crap. People ignore them and are afraid to do anything.

[KK-pmud]

If they find this guy put him in prison for five years. This is ridiculous.

[AlexkitoSv]

But what will the punishment be? Because a couple of days in jail and then out on the street won't stop them from doing it again.

[Truckngirl]

DRILLING into a gas tank? I think this may lead to many Darwin awards...

[towguy]

As a tow driver in Oakland, CA, I saw where thieves drilled holes on the side of the plastic fuel tanks of commercial vehicles and installed either drain plugs or a spigot so they could tap off a few gallons at a time without being noticed.

[JeffreyMason-ek]

You stealing gas? Don’t do it anymore. Instead, GET A JOB NOW!!!!

[Casitascrawlers]

If you have a truck or other vehicle that sits high & is easy to get under you are the first ones they look at.

[Zildjian_DW]

$4000 to replace a fuel tank is a crime!

[octaviolopezsr.]

We just can't get a break! If it's not road rage/Edgars racing on the freeway/streets, Street takeovers, Catalytics getting stolen, Now Gas??!! what do these people want? a total breakdown of society? I know they don't see themselves as part of a working society, but, Jesus!! Just get a freaking job already. Contribute a little instead of stealing oxygen.

[GaryFeltman]

$4000 to fixit? They definitely ripped her off! It could have been fixed for less than $500! The mechanics are as bad as the thieves are!

[Timberland]

$4000 to replace a gas tank. I think she was ripped off twice and the second time was worse than the first.

[danwittels]

$4000 for a gas tank? That's criminal too.

[NotExpatJoe]

My neighbor had this happen a few years ago. I fixed the hole with about $2 worth of Belzona 1111 epoxy and it's been holding ever since. It should be a crime to charge $4, 000 to fix this.