any one else a victim of petrol syphoning?

ea90gl · 10-01-2008, 02:32 PM

well over the last couple of weeks we've been hit with some person/persons syphoning petrol around our area, we wake to find our petrol flaps open and alot less fuel in the tank. Apperently our neighbours also had thier cars fuel stolen at some point. just recently we've put petrol caps with a lock but im sure the thief will work thier way around this. Its little surprise to be honest with petrol nudging 1.50 a litre, who else has copped some sort of theft like this?

Booka · 10-01-2008, 02:36 PM

The same things been happaning around my area past 4 or so months, My dads been a victim of this, anyone else out there had this happen????

Kryton · 10-01-2008, 02:38 PM

cant say i have had it happen to me.
leave the fuel flap open with a small bit of garden hose sticking out.
they will see that and think "oh well, someone already beat me to it" and move on to the next car.

tex · 10-01-2008, 02:40 PM

I would like some sympathy here.......

I had 400lt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! of fuel syphoned out of my boat last year - premium as well! Must have been someone that new it was there, why else would you come prepared with two 44 gallon drums?

EF302 · 10-01-2008, 02:47 PM

Yeah i've had it happen with my last car(eb) came out in the morning to find flap open and fuel all over the lawn, im guessing they copped a mouthful of fuel for ther troubles....

aye you · 10-01-2008, 02:49 PM

yep had it happen a few times, until we let the dog outside at night, woke up early one morning to a dude screaming, the dog (which was a police dog) had him around the arm. He got charged with theft and had to pay for the fuel he stole. haven't had a problem since

mattl · 10-01-2008, 02:56 PM

Had this several times..had 3/4 of a tank stolen just last Sunday!!!!! Soo frustrating..really getting to me! Whats even worse is I keep my XR6T behind my gate, in my drive way, behind my daily under a car port..So they didn't just steal it of the street. Went into my property..GRR

Hm..guard dog? Not a bad idea..haha :evil3:

Sloth · 10-01-2008, 03:02 PM

Low lives. I'm not a victim but I sympathise. And why do they always leave the fuel door open? Is it just so they can rub it in as a way or saying, 'ha I stole your petrol.' or does it break the latch? I suppose it's good in some ways so you don't get in your car and wonder where 1/2 a tank went.

Yellow_Festiva · 10-01-2008, 03:02 PM

I always thought most modern cars had a spring / steel mesh within the filler pipe, blocking any pipe from beig inserted???

Perhaps, if this is a regular thing, you could do a Macguyver and fashion something out of wire or the like that can be added to the join between the steel and rubber in the filler???

sgt_doofey · 10-01-2008, 03:09 PM

Meh, running on LPG means that at best I have only a few litres in the petrol tank at one time, so it's not a problem for me.
The Peugeot has a locking fuel cap, so that should be right, but it's diesel, so it'll probably taste really foul when they siphon it and get some in their mouth.

I can see it becoming a problem, especially in the lower socio-economic regions. I park the Falcon in one of these areas every day I go to work, so I wouldn't be surprised to get back to my car at the train station with the fuel flap busted open. Still waiting for the day I get back there with the car busted open...

DDXR6T · 10-01-2008, 03:09 PM

Heard about it happening. A few people have came into work looking for locking caps for this reason. With the price of fuel - I think it'll be an increasing problem. I wouldn't be too worried about my fuel - I'd be more worried about the damge from prying the filler door open!

Riksta · 10-01-2008, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Perhaps, if this is a regular thing, you could do a Macguyver and fashion something out of wire or the like that can be added to the join between the steel and rubber in the filler???

If everyone did that, paper clip sales would go through the roof!

T3ts50 · 10-01-2008, 03:22 PM

It hasnt happened to me, but happened to about 3 friends of mine back in 2000 when fuel reached a scary 1.00L.

Yellow_Festiva · 10-01-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riksta

If everyone did that, paper clip sales would go through the roof!

You know the funny thing... I actually had PAPER CLIP instead if wire, but changed it at the last minute lol.....

tankclare · 10-01-2008, 03:41 PM

Havent had it happen to me yet but as others have said with the price of fuel going up it wouldnt surprise me if we see more of it happening.

As for gas cars. I would pay to see someone try and steal gas. Wouldnt it be hard as they require the nozzle connection when filling up. You can't just throw in a hose.

All these people talking about getting a mouthful of fuel need to get with the times. A jiggler hose is your friend.

andrewts · 10-01-2008, 03:42 PM

For one thing it's not so bad that I have a manually opening fuel door. That way they can just open it and not ruin my car trying to pry it open. I also tend to leave the doors unlocked in areas prone to break-ins. That way, they can come in, see that I don't have anything to steal and leave it alone, without causing damage by breaking a window or jamming a screwdriver into my door.

**thefargo** · 10-01-2008, 03:58 PM

happened to me a few years ago, but they slid underneath and punched a hole in the tank with a screwdriver, must have caught it in a bowl or something. I lived in a small country town then, and over a short period just about everyone got done.

Casablanca · 10-01-2008, 03:59 PM

you know technically it's illegal to leave your car unlocked even in high risk areas.

i can definately see the reason behind it but just watch out because if something does get damaged you cannot claim on insurance as you have illegally left your car unlocked.

cob115 · 10-01-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aye you

yep had it happen a few times, until we let the dog outside at night, woke up early one morning to a dude screaming, the dog (which was a police dog) had him around the arm. He got charged with theft and had to pay for the fuel he stole. haven't had a problem since

HA HA HA can i please borrow your dog he does sound like mans best freind

ea90gl · 10-01-2008, 04:33 PM

the overwhelming response doesnt surprise me, so many low lives around these days. And say you got 30 litres stolen, its roughly $40 dollars which isnt something you'd just throw away. Im waiting for the day some assse wipe invents the LPG "jerry can", where you screw the nozzle in and away you go. I would absolutely love to catch the syphoner in the act, probably make him drink every drop he stole to teach him a lesson - he can find his own way to the hospital. I'm just glad no holes have been punched in the tank, that would be a headache

Melchior3 · 10-01-2008, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casablanca

you know technically it's illegal to leave your car unlocked even in high risk areas.

i can definately see the reason behind it but just watch out because if something does get damaged you cannot claim on insurance as you have illegally left your car unlocked.

I knew about the insurance part of it, but ILLEGAL? That I have never heard of. Where can I find a copy of this law? (what legislation etc) Im very interested.

ZA-289 · 10-01-2008, 04:51 PM

Locking petrol caps people!

XR Martin · 10-01-2008, 04:54 PM

I think its illegal to leave the keys in it, not unlocked.

Dezza · 10-01-2008, 05:05 PM

I've had someone try, but they didn't get anything (or not much).

Unfortunately in the process, they forced my fuel door open, which cracked it. I had to replace my fuel door after that.

Hunter · 10-01-2008, 05:51 PM

I haven't had any issues lately... in my old gemini someone stole the fuel flap but I don't think they stole any fuel (

: ).

Recently I was going through a lot of fuel and it had occurred to me that maybe some bastard had stolen my fuel but then I realised that I was talking about a Falcon

.

irlewy86 · 10-01-2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melchior3

I knew about the insurance part of it, but ILLEGAL? That I have never heard of. Where can I find a copy of this law? (what legislation etc) Im very interested.

I know it became law in Queensland at the start of 2006, apart of the national road rules requirement (so I dare say its in every state by now). You weren't able to leave your car without locking, engaing the handbrake and leaving it in gear. $75 fine or something.

Transit Truck · 10-01-2008, 07:01 PM

Ah so Jeep isnt stupid... I have on mine a manual door with an ignition key locked cap... They must of learnt that in America a long time ago

[Tonko] · 10-01-2008, 07:44 PM

We get fruitpickers trying to steal it around here, well, they will steal anything actually...

They steal it to drink...freaks...

**aussiblue** · 10-01-2008, 07:55 PM

You can buy spiral spring anti syphoning devices that you push in the inlet pipe and these http://www.capitalstores.co.uk/produ...d4a918fd0f1e34

And you hope this happens:

Quote:

Seattle: When a man attempted to siphon gasoline from a motor home parked on a Seattle street, he got much more than he bargained for. Police arrived at the scene to find an ill man curled up next to a motor home near spilled sewage. A police spokesman said that the man admitted to trying to steal gasoline and plugged his hose into the motor home's sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the vehicle declined to press charges, saying that it was the best laugh he'd ever had.

http://darwinawards.com/stupid/stupid1999-17.html

**aussiblue** · 10-01-2008, 08:03 PM

I think the reason anti-siphon devices are now less popular is that the crims soon found could still access the fuel by cutting the rubber inlet pipe, removing the bung from the tank or with plastic tanks stabbing a hole in the bottom - actions that caused more damage than just having the fuel siphoned out.