Why do people steal gas?

[proud2BlibKansan]

Quik Trip lost $1 million from drive offs last year - when people pumped gas without paying for it.

http://www.csnews.com/csn/search/article_display.jsp?schema=&vnu_content_id=1000835698

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

1. cuz....

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I love that sign

but I don't think a high price justifies stealing gas.

I was just stunned to read that this ONE convenience store chain lost a million dollars to gas theft in only a year. That is incredible.

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

10. No, not justifies.... but makes it hard(er) for those suffering the plight

of poverty. To hold 3 minimum wage jobs... I dunno, I guess it's expected that thievery in general occurs more when the economy is in the shit-can.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. I did think of that

and I guess these rising gas prices are really hurting low income folks.

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

17. Look at the minimum wage increases (or lack thereof)....

It was $5.15/hour from 1997 until THREE WEEKS AGO here in WI. They just increased it to a WHOPPING $5.70/hour...

not real parallel to gas price increases. Gas was $1.38/gallon here in WI in 2000 and now it's $2.43!!

I don't justify, and I hate to make excuses. But, reality is that it's probably not the SUV/Hummer folks stealing gas for the most part... jus' sayin'. I am not feeling sorry for the oil companies. I have sympathy for the low-income folks who can hardly afford to get to work.

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. I feel sorry for them too

But I have more sympathy for the owner of the gas station who is making a couple cents a gallon profit on the gas he sells.

[SmileyBoy]

56. Sorry to tell you this, but it IS the SUV/Hummer folks doing it the most.

I was assistant manager for a SuperAmerica convenience store in Minneapolis for a year, and I would get several drive-offs per month, and almost ALWAYS the people who did it were driving either SUVs or really nice looking cars.

[meow2u3]

63. Exorbitant gas prices may not justify stealing gas....

but they sure as hell provoke gasoline theft.

Gas thieves think they're stealing back from oil companies who gouge them for everything they've got, but the fact is that the gas stations are the ones who buy the product at ungodly prices.



If gas thieves really want to stick it to the oil robber barons, they ought to break into a refinery and rip'em off then and there! :sarcasm:

[silverweb]

3. Righteous expectations, of course.

We in the U.S. are addicted to the belief that our lifestyle entitles us to unlimited, inexpensive access to fuel for our cars and other toys. We expect to have what we want when we want it and cheaply.

We don't care if our military is misused to take over third world countries or slaughter innocents to feed our addiction and we don't care if our clothing is stitched by slave labor -- as long as we get what we want. So why should we find it objectionable that people simply take what they want from purveyors here at home?

"Value for value" is an old-fashioned concept based on honesty and integrity. Quaint. Out-dated. Useless. If CEOs and corporations can simply take anything they want, including pension funds, then why can't private citizens just take what they want?

Let's at least be consistent here.

:sarcasm:

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Now that makes sense

We definitely have an 'I want it and I want it now' culture.

[barb162]

38. I think a movie is coming out or is out on this subject

something about gas being 6 bucks a gallon and the American people won't dump the SUVs for anything.

[silverweb]

45. I haven't heard about that one.

I have to admit, I snicker to myself every time I see a gas guzzler these days.

On the other hand, I understand that the waiting list for a hybrid is something like 18 months because they just can't make them fast enough?

I'm just grateful that I get to work at home and rarely have to drive anywhere.

[barb162]

60. I drive a Toyota Corolla which gets about 30 mpg or something

Whenever I drive I am always surrounded by these enormous SUVs. There are so many SUVs in my neighborhood aznd area. It boggles my mind that they seem to always show people at the gas stations filling these behemoths and complaining about the prices. It seems to never occur to these people to conserve by getting more fuel efficient vehicles. And when the behemoths have those yellow ribbons on the back of their vehicles about their support of the troops in Iraq, well, they are on serious disconnect with reality

[datasuspect]

61. take out the dripping sarcasm dealie

and you pretty much got it righ on the ball.

[JVS]

5. Because it is pretty easy to do so

If grocery stores let you quickly put $50 worth of merchandise into a car capable of going about 100 mph and then wanted you to come in to pay for it, then they'd have the same problem

[RPM]

7. you can lose your license if you steal gas in pa.

good lobbying work by the fuel sellers...

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. I support controlling loss

If I owned a retail company, I would come down hard on thieves.

[RPM]

32. should be on all theives - not just fuel drive offs...

but all drive-away crimes.

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. Agreed

[Redstone]

29. "good lobbying work," my ass.

Since when should it be OK to steal?

Redstone

[RPM]

31. why should stealing gas cost you your license, but stealing bread doesn't

If a theft (of any product) involves a car you should lose your license.

Special treatment for petrol retailers that is not extended to other property owners (food drive throughs, private citisens from whom people steal stuff out of their yards, etc.) is good lobbying work by that narrow special interest.

You misinterpreted my sentiment (easy to do - i didnt fully express it before) as I am not saying that those stealing fuel shouldnt be prosecuted - just that any drive-away crime should result in a suspension of licensure.

[Redstone]

35. OK, if that's what you meant, then I agree.

Stealing is stealing and should be treated equally no matter what is stolen.

Redstone

[Ikonoklast]

52. We subsidize theft

Each theft at the retail level is figured into the overhead. Whether you realize it or not, we pay for those that don't.

[Redstone]

55. And it's amazing how few people realize that,

as they make excuses for the thieves.

Redstone

[NoPasaran]

40. You librul bleeding hearts are always soft on crime

Stealing bread should get you sent to the galleys.
:sarcasm:

[jmowreader]

53. I've never been to a food drive-through that didn't take the money first

In Fayettenam a lot of gas stations require payment unless "we know you."

[MrSlayer]

6. Because free is always better than paying?

Why does anyone steal anything?

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. Because they are morally corrupt?

I am sorry but I really don't get it. Sure there are desparate people with few choices. But the ones who steal because they can or because it's easier or better are just not honest people. I expect a certain amount of those kind of people in our society but for one store chain to lose one million dollars worth of gas is just amazing to me.

[silverweb]

11. It's the way of the world, apparently.

Some of our "leaders" are busy dividing up the spoils of war in Iraq, paid for with innocent blood, which division was being planned long before we invaded that hapless nation:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=135064

How can stealing a tank of gas be any worse? On the other hand, guess who gets to go to jail for stealing and who doesn't....

Meanwhile, there is more and more proof that we don't need oil:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/20050626/ts_latimes/toreplaceoilusexpertsseeamberwavesofplastic

Stories like this give me hope and reinforce my conviction that we don't need fossil fuels/oil -- but at the same time, I'm screaming with frustration that our nation's priorities are so misplaced.

[ret5hd]

13. what's the name of that guy that steals a loaf of bread in...

les miserables?

[silverweb]

15. Jean Valjean

:)

That's a great book.

[ret5hd]

16. yeah it is...maybe if more people read it...

i'm just sayin'.

[silverweb]

21. Maybe.

And maybe if more Pseudochristian Dominionists really read the Gospels, they'd learn a little love and mercy....

It just doesn't seem to always work that way.

One of the most rabid, frothing-at-the-mouth reTHUGlicans I know just loves the musical stage version of Les Miserables and just loves the thee-ay-tah -- it's so "elegant" dontchaknow. But this same individual would be among the first to have a pauper arrested and flogged for stealing a loaf of bread.

Sometimes knowing just isn't enough.

[Nikia]

14. Why do accountants embezzle from their companies?

A man who went to my church was charged and imprisioned for stealing around $80,000 from his company over the course of a few year. He said that his first theft was an accident. The money had been lost for another reason and he felt the need to cover it up, which he did successfully. Later, he found the money so he pocketed it. He saw how easy it was.
I am sure that it starts that way with some people. They have a lot on their mind and accidently drive off without paying. When they realize it, they are far away or too embarassed to go back and pay. For some, it occurrs to them that they can successfully steal gas and not get caught.

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. I have a friend who is in banking

He is a local branch manager. He's been a banker for over 30 years now. He says that at least once a year they catch a bank employee stealing at his bank. Being around all that money is just too tempting I guess.

[JanMichael]

18. A few are idiot teens, like some of my old friends, however there's a...

...thing called broke and sometimes people are forced to steal to get to work or pick up their kids from school.

It the nature of our giant swindling machine economy.

[Redstone]

30. "forced to steal to pick up their kids from school?"

Oh, sure.

1) The kids can't take the school bus home?

2) Cite ONE example of this actually happening.

Enough excuses, people. I grew up poor, which meant that to my parents, and pretty much everyone else around town, gasoline (and lots of other stuff) was expensive.

But people dealt with it being expensive by using as little of it as possible. They didn't deal with it by stealing.

Redstone

[JanMichael]

33. How about the broke part, forget the reasons, that happens.

I'm not saying it's the ONLY reason but i can imagine there are times when it happens.

I'm glad your parents didn't have to break the law, I'm also glad that you weren't judging Jean Valjean...

[Redstone]

36. Oh, spare me with the Jean Valjean reference.

Gasoline isn't food. You can always walk.

I did it enough times, and so did a lot of other people. Lots of people still do.

Redstone

[frylock]

43. my current commute to work is 50 miles one way..

the job is a temporary 2 week position, so please don't tell me to move closer, and no, public transportation is not an option unless I want to spend 6 hours a day on top of the 9 that I work just getting there. I would never consider stealing gas (you pay before you pump in CA anyhow) but I find your remarks to be rather naive.

[Redstone]

46. What does your situation have to do with my position

that stealing is wrong?

Redstone

[frylock]

49. "Gasoline isn't food. You can always walk."

people need money to buy food. people need gas to get to work.

[Redstone]

50. I've been working since I was fourteen. I'm in my fifties now.

I never stole gasoline to get to work.

Can we stop making excuses now? Please?

Redstone

[frylock]

51. good for you, neither have i..

but I would imagine that there are people that have had to do it.

[barb162]

19. I would like to know the kinds of vehicles being driven, eg,, what

% are SUVs or luxury cars that are invloved with the thefts. I wonder if these stores ever used cameras at the pumps

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. Most of the gas places where I live

have cameras. I think they are EVERYWHERE.

My car got hit about 2 years ago and I thought it had been hit in a store parking lot. So I went back to the store and asked if I could look at their security tapes to see if my car got hit in their lot. The security guy took me to a room that had at least 20 TV screens each with a different view of the inside and outside of that store. It was pretty amazing. The guy was able to find the tape showing me parking and leaving that store 20 minutes later. He could zoom in on the tape and see license plates on cars.

Unfortunately, my car had not been hit in that lot. I never did figure out what happened. But that security room - camera central - was very eye-opening. If I had been a shoplifter, seeing that would have cured me for sure.

[evlbstrd]

22. That's one reason I'm lobbying hard for a job in the neighborhood.

If it gets to the point where I can't afford gas, I can walk to work, stores, etc.
As it is, I drive to the 'burbs to work, and only buy as much gas as I need to to do that. I never fill up anymore.

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. It is getting scary.

I drive 17 miles one way to work. I can't really afford to go a lot of other places anymore.

We always take a driving vacation in August. We are still planning on going, but are thinking of not going as far as we had originally planned.

[evlbstrd]

26. My commute is from Midtown to southern burbs.

It takes a half hour each way, which I know is nothing compared to larger cities. But up until that job, I've worked in the neighborhood. It's been eight and half years now, and an incredible opening came up at you-know-which major gallery. I want it very badly!

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. I will keep my fingers crossed for you

Sounds exciting.

This city is so big it would be nice to work close to home.

[evlbstrd]

28. Thanks for the vibe!

Yeah, it's way too spread out for the population density.
And promoting art is way more worthwhile than selling truck engines and construction equipment!

[Renew Deal]

34. At some point, gas will be that valuable.

Especially if you drive an SUV.

[chickenscratching]

39. Why do people create gas?

[proud2BlibKansan]

41. So they can drive really big cars

and go anywhere they want.

[chickenscratching]

42. They always like it their way, you know?

"My way is best!" They always say. :eyes:

[frylock]

44. why not just make it pay before you pump?

that's how it's done here in Cali.

[silverweb]

47. That makes way too much sense.

:D

[BiggJawn]

48. Because at these prices, a minimum-wage guy has to work whole DAY...

...to buy enough gas to get back and forth for a week.

the guy who works at my corner gasn'gulp lives 25 miles away. Sure, it's his second job, but what about somebody who works at Mickey-Dee's 15 miles away, drives a 20-y-o 20-MPG hoopdy, and hopefully doesn't have to drive anywhere else.

A whole damn day, just to be able to afford to comute. And THAT's discounting his insurance and what it costs when the damn thing breaks down every other week.

Not surprised "drive-offs" are on the rise.

"They'll not be gettin' MY Juice!"

[Floogeldy]

54. Nobody has stolen any of my gas.

B-)

[leftofthedial]

57. to make their cars go

[NMMNG]

58. Gas is expensive

1. People are having a harder time affording it so they get desperate. They can't run out of the grocery store with a full cart of free groceries so they drive off with a tank full of free gas instead.
2. People rationalize it (damn oil companies make billions ripping us off, they can afford a few losses,yadda yadda yadda).
3. Some people compensate for their small units with gas guzzling monster vehicles that take like 40 gallons of gas a week.


:shrug:

[PittPoliSci]

59. why does anyone steal anything?

[Shell Beau]

62. Some (and only some) actually forget to pay. Most

just drive off b/c they either think it is no big deal, or that they somehow deserve it. Stealing is stealing regardless of why it is done. I know that in these times when gas is so damn high it is hard to pay those prices. But we all have to pay them, and some people shouldn't feel they are exempt b/c it is too expensive b/c it is too expensive for ALL of us.

[datasuspect]

64. because it is so fucking expensive? next question please.