Are Truck Owners Worried About Gas Theft?
Jason Lancaster | Mar 21, 2011 | Comments 16
Gas prices are creeping back up, and we’re wondering if you’re wondering about gas theft. Here’s a recent story from Cummings, Georgia that illustrates gas theft is indeed happeneing:
Four men wearing hooded sweatshirts were seen siphoning gas from a pickup truck…The thieves fled with about 10 gallons of gasoline in two separate pickup trucks. The theft is estimated at about $33.
$33 doesn’t seem like enough reward to put the time into stealing gas, especially if it’s split four ways…but criminals have never been known for common sense. A full tank of gas in a 2007 or newer Toyota Tundra is about 26 gallons, and if gas is $4 a gallon, that’s over $100 worth of fuel. With so much fuel in your truck, is there a reason to be worried? Keep reading to share your opinion:
How Gas Can Be Stolen
The “tools” needed to steal gas are some rubber tubing, a pump of some kind (or a person willing to risk swallowing gas), and a place to keep the stolen gas (a.k.a. a gas can). A quick survey of gas cans at the local hardware store and online shows that the biggest hand-held gas can you can buy is about 5 gallons. This is probably because gas weighs about 8lbs per gallon, and most people can’t manage pouring gas out of anything heavier than 40lbs.
There are some rolling gas cans/gas tanks that could be used to steal as much as 14 gallons of gas, but these weigh in at 110lbs+ when full. It’s hard to imagine some thief using something so bulky and heavy because it would be awfully hard to get away without leaving it behind. Since these 14 gallon tanks cost at least $100, it’s also hard to imagine a thief would invest in them to begin with.
For all these reasons, it’s my opinion that someone would not try and steal an entire tank’s worth of fuel at one time. It’s certainly possible, but it’s much more likely that a person would steal 1-5 gallons of fuel at a time since these cans are easier to carry and cheaper to acquire.
There are pros and cons to having a locking gas cap
The Pros and Cons of Locking Gas Caps
Some truck owners have invested in a locking gas cap as a theft deterrent, but like all truck accessories there are pros and cons.
PROS:
- Locking gas caps are a cheap theft deterrent. For as little as $13 you can buy a Stant locking gas cap for your truck.
- Easy install, easy use.
CONS:
- They don’t always work correctly, and can cause random check engine light problems if they don’t pressurize the fuel system in the same way that the factory gas cap does.
- They’re hard to remove if you lose the key.
- A frustrated thief might try and cut the cap off, damaging your truck’s fuel filler neck in the process. A $13 part designed to prevent the theft of $10 worth of gas could lead to hundreds of dollars of damage from destructive attempt to bypass the lock.
An alternative to a locking gas cap is a locking gas cap cover, like these from AMI:
Locking gas doors are a better theft deterrent than gas caps, but they're more expensive too.
A locking fuel door will cost quite a bit more than a gas cap – from $110 for a flat black cover to $130 for a fancy black and chrome number – but unlike a gas cap no one will try and cut it off. It’s also a very obvious deterrent in that people can see from 20′ away that your truck is protected.
Are You Worried About Gas Theft?
So, what about it: Are you concerned? Obviously your neighborhood has something to do with your risk level, as does where you park during the work day. Still, if we assume gas costs $4 a gallon, are you concerned about gas theft? Would you invest in a locking gas cap or locking fuel door to prevent theft? Answer our survey and share your comments below!
Filed Under: TundraHeadquarters.com
I’ve seen reports of thieves just punching a hole in the tank with a screwdriver to drain. An even more expensive repair.
I have heard the same about punching holes in the tanks. I park in the garage when I can.
me too, heard many stories of puncture tanks. much easier than removing locking gas caps. i have locking caps on all of my vehicles except my tundra. my dealer said there wasnt one available yet that would correctly work. they did suggest ebay for locking gas lids. not only do you have to worry about gas theft but you also have to worry about vandals putting sugar and junk in your fuel tank.
Where in the heck are all you guys living, theftville USA? I still don’t understand toyota not putting a button inside the car like my corolla has that is the only way to open the lid to fill up the car. I just hope the button never fails outside of warranty. Never heard of gas being stolen out of a vehicle here, but I suppose if you get the right idiot, it could happen. I sure would like someone to try it on me, for I’d throw the gas on him/her from the gas can and light a match!
I personally live on the edge of a small town and what would be considered “country/wooded” area. But because it is a small town, younger groups don’t have as many jobs as maybe they would in a “bigger” city area. Younger kids don’t have a lot to do outside of school, unless you are a hunter/fisher/outdoorsmen, so they find other ways to pass the time. Either making babies or stealin shit seems to be the two most popular choices. Kids use to be able to pick berries for the farmers as a summer job, but cause of stupid child laws and an over abundance of illegal’s that went right out the window. We did just get a Wal-Mart though! WOOO! That did get a few of them off the street, say what you want about small towns and Wal-Mart but I’m telling you first hand I love mine!
Heard the same here in Jax about hole punching. It wasn’t on Tundra’s. Also it already started here in gas theft on work trucks. Those who have yard business’s are the first one hit. It just happened to be Ford’s and Chevy’s. They do make locking gas caps for the 07 and up models. I got mine at O’reilly’s. It’s a stant. I haven’t been using it. My truck stays in the garage which helps. I agree with mk about the door opening from inside. The wife’s Prius has the same thing. That would work also as a deterent.
Wow that sucks – punching a hole in the tank is just asinine, but it makes sense. Eliminates the need for $4 worth of tubing…sad state of affairs, isn’t it?
Mickey,
stopped by oreilley’s and they didnt show one for a 2010 tundra on their computers. then i stopped by autozone and they had one, part number 5791. drove around for about 15 minutes and so far so good.
Danny glad you found one. Orielly’s just happened to be a block from where I used to work. Otherwise it would have been Autozone.
That’s why I have insurance. It’ll tick me off if it’s punctured but at least it’ll be taken care of. They’ll be more pissed off when they find out there’s no gas in the tank. I haven’t bought a full tank in ages because I don’t drive anywhere….and the truck mostly sits in the driveway until I am home on the weekend. Why fill something to sit? It’s usually on 1/4 tank unless I’m going offroad and I buy full tanks to get to/from the riding area.
TXTee, why have the truck then if only to play on weekends? I’m lucky to get a full tank of gas to go 5-7 days of driving, lucky you????
I purchased it to haul my motorcycles, pets, etc when I originally bought it. I’ve since changed jobs that now I rarely drive ANY of my vehicles. I fly on a weekly basis and take a taxi to the airport. It’s now used mostly to trailer my ATV when I’m home on the weekend.
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Just had my 07 Tundra’s gas tank drilled from the bottom. 3/8 drill bit up through the skid plate and they took the cap off to vent and drained the tank. E470 area off Chambers road in Colorado…sick and tired of theifs.
Tom,
That is terrible! And I wouldn’t suspect a thing like that would happen and especially in that area of town. Ugh. What a terrible Monday!
-Tim