Illinois Drivers Beware, Drilling Holes In Gas Tanks Is the New Hot Crime

I know everyone feels like they are being robbed when they stop at a gas station to fuel up right now, but gas theft is becoming a big problem in Illinois.

When I say gas theft, I'm not talking about people ditching paying at the pump, I'm talking about thieves literally drilling holes in gas tanks to steal fuel.

Illinois Police Departments Warn Drivers About the Rise of Gas Thefts

According to an article on wgntv.com, police departments throughout the Midwest are warning residents about an uptick in gas thefts, but the way thieves are stealing the gas will cost you a whole lot more than just a new tank of fuel.

AAA says since most newer vehicles have a feature that prevents gas tank rollover and siphoning fuel from the tank, thieves are literally drilling holes under your car to get the gas. So not only do you have no gas, you know how to replace the entire fuel tank which will cost even more.

How to Protect Yourself From Gas Theft

We may not be able to protect ourselves from high gas prices, but we can do a few things to protect our vehicles from the drilling of thieves. Obviously, the best way to prevent gas theft is to park your car in the garage every night, but that is not an option for everyone so here are a few other things you can do to prevent gas theft according to AAA;

• When you're away from home, park your car in a well-lit, high-traffic area.
• If possible park in a fenced-in parking lot, or somewhere else that's not easily accessible.
• When parking in a parking garage, try to find a spot that is close to an exit or elevator since these areas have the most foot traffic.