Sheriff Takes on Gas Thieves

As gas prices rise... so have the number of thefts. Police say crooks are stealing gas at breakneck pace. And that has authorities in one town, doing something about it.

Scott Seroka explains:

THERE IT IS... STARING YOU IN THE FACE... 3-89 A GALLON. THE NUMBERS ARE ALSO STARING SHERIFF DEPUTIES IN THE FACE. "We're in the midst of a huge epidemic of gas theft." HOOKING UP HOSES AND PUMPS..

THEIVES ARE TAKING RIGHT FROM THE TANK. "More and more people are telling us hey, I think my gas was siphoned."

ITS GOTTEN SO BAD.. THE RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS SET UP A HOTLINE SPECIFICALLY FOR SIPHON VICTIMS. THIEVES CAN GET TO YOUR TANK WHILE YOU'RE SLEEPING.. EVEN IF YOU'RE THE SHERIFF'S WIFE.

"She called me immediately and said I'm below E and I may not make it to the gas station, they had completely drained a 22 gallon tank."

THAT'S MORE THAN 80 BUCKS. "It's always frustrating." MUST BE.. THE FOLKS AT SHELL IN ARDEN HILLS SAY ITS COMMON TO LOSE SEVERAL FULL TANKS A DAY... THANKS TO DRIVE-OFFS.

HEAR THAT BEEP.. THAT'S HOW THE CLERKS FIGHT IT. IF YOU DON'T PREPAY... THAT BEEP TELLS THE CLERK TO WRITE DOWN THE PLATE NUMBER, MAKE, AND MODEL OF THE CAR BEFORE ALLOWING A CUSTOMER TO FILL UP.

SHELL WAS A PILOT STATION FOR THE SHERIFF'S OTHER NEW PROGRAM. "It's a secure site the gas stations can log on." A WEBSITE PROVIDING A DIRECT LINK TO DEPUTIES... WHO CAN QUICKLY CATCH UP... TO THOSE WHO DRIVE OFF... THAT MEANS THE GAS STATION RECOVERS MORE MONEY. "

We have, people tend to respond better when the police deparment calls."

WHILE YOU WATCH THE PRICE.. POLICE ARE WATCHING THE PUMP.