Amid historically high gas prices nationwide, gas station owner is taking precautions after their business was targeted by thieves. Nearly 400 gallons of gas were stolen from a North Carolina gas station this week.
The report states, the heist lasted just over 45 minutes.
Owner of Bizzy Bee Grocery and BP in High Point, North Carolina, Hardik Patel, told WGHP that 398 gallons of gas were taken after the business was closed.
According to WGHP:
Patel told the news outlet, “It lasted about 45 minutes until the police found out they were here. But between that time, there were maybe 15 cars probably. Filled the gas close to 400 gallons”
Surveillance video showed someone come up to the pump and use a remote control-like device to bypass the payment system, and then cars began to show up and fill up their tanks, The driver appears to pump their own gas before directing more and more cars into the station.
“It’s abnormal at about 10-12 cars at that time. We have a lot of regulars watching around the bad parts. And at that time, they knew something was wrong,” Patel told WGHP.
A customer suspected something was wrong and contacted the police.
“I’ve been in business for 15 years and owned other gas stations. I have never seen something like this,” Patel said. “It wasn’t free, they were stealing.”
Patel told WXII he will now be turning the gas pumps off at night, saying that a few extra customers aren’t worth the potential risk of losing more gas.
The thieves used a unique remote to put the gas pump in “dispense mode,” allowing them to take hundreds of gallons of free gas, according to Petroleum Technician Trey Barker of WGHP.
Barker told the news outlet, “The reason dispensers have this option is so petroleum technicians and NC Weight and Measures can test and calibrate dispensers.”
Barker said such incidents don’t happen often but they are more likely when gas prices reach $4 a gallon. Patel told WGHP he lost $1,600 worth of gas in the incident.
Rising gas prices have prompted more crimes involving stolen fuel. All thanks to Biden!
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Sources: Dailywire, Myfox8, Cnn
