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Car gas theft in Oxnard spurs concern
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More from Local NewsWhen Bill Busby left his pickup parked at Oxnard Airport, it had three-quarters of a tank of gasoline, so he was surprised his gas light went on when he returned Friday morning.
"The light went on as I was driving down Fifth Street, and I pulled into a gas station," he said.
"I opened up the gas door, and they took the whole gas cap and everything. They cut it off. They just cut the whole cap off."
This is the first report of gas theft this month at Oxnard Airport, but there have been three or four incidents so far this year, said Chris Hastert, deputy director of the Ventura County Department of Airports.
"I'm sure that the gas prices have a lot to do with it," he said.
On Friday, Ventura County's average price for regular unleaded rose to $4.18 a gallon, while diesel was $5.15 a gallon, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.
Hastert said the Airports Department plans to post signs to warn people about gas thefts and include a contact number if they see something suspicious.
Airport security, which is on site 24 hours a day, also was notified of the incident so it could be more vigilant about gas theft, he said.
The airport has offered to refund $18 in parking fees to Busby, a Ventura engineer who was returning home after a three-day business trip to Salt Lake City.
After filling his 16-gallon fuel tank, he drove around Ventura looking for an auto parts store that sells gas cap locking devices.
AutoZone didn't have any in stock. He said workers told him "there's been a run on locking caps" amid the rise in gasoline prices.
"They're hard to keep in stock," said Ray Pohlman, spokesman for Memphis, Tenn.-based AutoZone. He added that consumers can find them online at the company's Web site if they are not available in stores.
"Ever since gas hit $2 a gallon, which seems like a long time ago, we have seen an appreciable increase in (the demand for) locking gas caps," Pohlman said.
Sales are continuing to increase in double-digit percentages over the past year, he said, with no gaps nationwide, from inner cities to suburbs.
Busby eventually found a locking cap at Kragen Auto Parts in Ventura.
Jose Mendoza, a manager at the Kragen store on East Main Street, said his store has also been getting more requests for the devices, which are like regular gas caps, except they're locked with keys.
"They're ripping the gas tanks off," he said, according to what his customers are telling him.
The devices range from $11 to $15, he said.
Oxnard Police Cmdr. Cliff Troy said he hadn't seen a report on the Oxnard Airport theft Friday. The most recent incident he knew of occurred a week ago, but he said he wasn't aware of an increase in gas thefts.
The Ventura Police Department also said gas thefts haven't spiked along with gas prices.
Ventura County Sheriff's Department spokesman Ross Bonfiglio made some quick phone calls Friday to see if investigators were seeing a rise in gasoline thefts.
From what he could gather, he said, "It has not become a problem yet."
He added: "That's not to say it won't. That's not to say it can't. It would take longer to do a statistical analysis."
Posted by SpiderWoman on May 31, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Same thing happens to our work trucks parked in a business park in Camarillo. Placed locking caps on them then they went on the underside and cut through to the tanks.
Posted by tsu.lee on May 31, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
mmshoot .. Drilling the tank is happening, for example in Denver
http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=4941278
"What made this particular method so dangerous and concerning for us was the way in which they were doing it — using cordless drills to puncture holes in these tanks," he said of the rash of cases his department has investigated this spring. "The heat, friction generated could have easily sparked a fire. It just made for a dangerous situation for the suspects and the community."
Posted by caokie on May 31, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OPD Cmdr Troy does not read he own department's reports I work for the county and our vans are hit almost every weekend, and it is reported to OPD, and of course the county will not secure the lot, so we are paying for someone's free gas. And they will not use locking gas caps, I have asked and am told by fleet services that the gas is cheaper that replacing the gas tank neck, which will be damaged if the locking gas cap is forced off.
Posted by JohnGC on May 31, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"The Ventura Police Department also said gas thefts haven't spiked along with gas prices.
Ventura County Sheriff's Department spokesman Ross Bonfiglio made some quick phone calls Friday to see if investigators were seeing a rise in gasoline thefts.
From what he could gather, he said, "It has not become a problem yet."
ROFL! Of course this is not local law enforcement... this from the VCSD on Uranus.
Posted by wbogaardt on May 31, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think people are not reporting gas thefts just yet, but it may be happening more than police realize.
Posted by THX1138 on May 31, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've flown out of Oxnard also and typically have someone drive me there. The lot has never appeared to be very secure.
That's really sad if they stoop to drilling the tank. The damage can be in the 100's of dollars! It amazes me how some people can be so careless and mean!
Posted by cassandra on May 31, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I suspect the level of lawlessness will increase as people get more desperate with increasing hard times--gas prices, unemployment, higher food and other prices, shrinking law enforcement dollars, and so on. Now is the time for community efforts to ameliorate the problems before they become overwhelming.
Posted by Jacksprat on May 31, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sure that drill the tank for those who do it is no that big of aproblem. they punch hole in pipe lines to get the gas. I have know of some one having a tramission removed from a car sitting if an center parking lot. So there are a lot out there who are skilled in these kind of things. Too bad they can't put that skill to some usefull work instead of taking the easy way out.
Posted by Fred on May 31, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dont forget that the cost of gas has been dramatically increased due to the weak dollar thanks to the banker's wh0re Ben Bernanke. Cutting rates to rescue rich banker buddies who paid no attention to the housing market and made loans to anyone with a pulse - we are all paying and Bernanke is a significant cause of our pain.
Posted by SpiderWoman on May 31, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sure it will only get worse and I agree with the other post that most people don't report it to the police - It's just a report and what are they going to do? We've had the tanks punctured and had the line that runs down to the tank sawed into, seems like that could be extremely dangerous to the people that are doing it but I guess they are that desperate. There was a story at Fox News that people are getting money for giving blood to pay for gas and the during the summer months blood donations are usually down but not now. Some one needs to do something about this gas crisis . . . and to think that Mad Max movies portrayed the future with gas problems and I thought that was far fetched, maybe not so.
Posted by UCSBguy on May 31, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
caokie what's the connection between Cmdr Troy of OPD, him not reading reports, and you losing gas? Your post doesn't make sense and your grammar is atrocious.
Posted by cassandra on May 31, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are not exaggerating, Spider Woman. The difference between this one and 1970s gas crisis is that the supply problem is now permanent. In the 70s the OPECers were flexing their power by controlling supply. Now, even they can't make significant additions to the supply, no matter how many nuclear toys Bush gives the Saudis. Now we have high prices; then we had shortages.
There will still be oil, but supply will not increase significantly and demand will continue to rise and therefore prices.
What we need to do is cut back on demand, however we can--public transport, fewer trips, better MPG, car pooling, telecommuting, walking, biking, van pools, transferring to a nearer job. Anyone in the trucking business or seriously needing cheap fuel for a livelihood should be looking for a plan B.
Bio-fuels are renewable but have their own share of problems. Other technofixes are not ready to go. Untapped US sources will be inadequate and pose untenable environmental risks.
The government could do some things--crash program to repair our railroad system to keep other goods from skyrocketing in price, regulating prices to the pump so that the corporates have the same crunch as everyone else instead of record profits, nationalize the industry if necessary. But these things are unlikely to happen.
What we can do is help our neighbors out at a community level best we can.
Sorry about the damage to your vehicle. I suspect you feel pretty violated.
Posted by caokie on May 31, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UCSB - He states gas is not being taken, but our clinic loses 4-10 van fulls each week that's 17 gal per van that YOU are paying for. The vans are owned by the county of ventura. The gas is paid for with taxpayer money so if you live in the state of California You are paying for it. By the way the county will not fix the problem.
Posted by oxnard_citizen_805 on May 31, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's my 2-cents. Be aware of your surroundings, especially if you park at less frequented parking lots such as in the beach areas, shopping centers, hiking trails, parks, etc. These thieves come in vans or trucks with drums and pumps equipped. They act dumb by pretending to be "working" on the vehicle. If you get that feeling that something wierd is going on, call you local police agency. Let's get rid of these scumbags.
Posted by UCSBguy on May 31, 2008 at 6:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
caokie oops my mistake but is this OPD's jurisdiction or VCSD? What about hiring a security guard that patrols the area? I'm sure it takes more than a minute to siphon gas out of a truck no?
Posted by rebel123 on May 31, 2008 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There's also a problem with catalytic converters being stolen off cars for the metal now that copper is selling high. Clearly we are living in desperate times. Thieves are low life scum !
Posted by mikeb6804 on May 31, 2008 at 9:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cassie --- you still don't get it. Cutting back on demand is not a bad idea, BUT our supply side has gone nowhere in 30 years. Pure environmentalist stupidity (also applies to whoever votes down drilling and nuclear power).
Posted by Adam_Monroe on June 1, 2008 at 12:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually rebel...they steal catalytic converters for the platinum...either way these scum are the lowest of the low...I hope they swallow some gas or spill it on their shirt and then light themselves on fire when they go to light up their glass meth pipe.
Posted by Face on June 1, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wanna have some fun? Get an old wreck and park it in an unlit area of Oxnard. Mix a tank of gasoline with several pounds of sugar and wait for the gas wheezers to show. It will ruin their engine and give you a little satisfaction.
Posted by sparks240 on June 1, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you buy a locking gas cap, the crooks will drill a hole in your gas tank. A tank full of fuel is cheaper than a new tank.
Posted by Adam_Monroe on June 1, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Face that is one AWESOME idea!!
And a catalytic converter replacement on most popular cars can range anywhere between $150-$500...for more expensive, higher end, or newer cars, it can definitely run into the $1,000+ range...
Posted by tofurr on June 2, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
caokie-
I'm curious exactly how you expect the county to fix the problem of gasoline theft.
You suggest that it should provide locking gas caps to county vehicles when you know full well that some people will happily drill a hole in the tank or cut the fuel lines to get at the fuel. How much does a fuel tank cost to replace? Hint: More than many tanks full of gasoline.
Instead of complaining that "fleet services" won't do anything about it, how about coming up with some other solutions? Security guard patrols? CCTV? Parking the vans elsewhere e.g. the gov't center? Not fueling the vans right before the weekend?
Posted by Adam_Monroe on June 2, 2008 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think that parking the vans in an indoor, secure facility would be a logical step. I know that the Williams Dr. County building has a fenced-in parking lot that with some handy-dandy razor wire, would be a good start to securing county vehicles over night and throughout the weekend.
Tofurr is also on to something I think with "not fueling the vans right before the weekend." That's actually a great idea! Then have them filled Monday morning to serve all week.
Posted by vcsexplorer11 on June 2, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe we should line our tanks with pigeon spikes. How about putting one of those touch sensitive circuits, like they have on lamps, to trigger the alarm.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on June 2, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think I will just wrap some razor wire and tape on a few dozen razor blades on the bottom of my tank.......... If they want to steal my gas let them bleed for it...........
Posted by Adam_Monroe on June 2, 2008 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunately Anna, the state we live in will probably allow the thieves to sue you after they cut themselves up trying to steal your gas...
Posted by srcheek on June 3, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is anyone else not surprised the thefts are occuring in Oxnard? I certainly am not. I visited my brother at St. John's Hospital yesterday and found my registration sticker stolen off of my license plate when I returned to the parkin lot. It had been ripped off with part of the bottom of the sticker remaining. Nice...
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