Cameras used to combat gas thefts

WATERVILLE – Some Maine gas station owners are installing surveillance cameras and requiring customers to pay in advance to combat an increasing number of gasoline thefts being fueled by rising prices.

J&S Oil has installed high-tech cameras at its station in Manchester, which has been averaging four or five gasoline thefts a week, up from one or two a week in the past.

John Babb, company president, said some people were driving off without paying even with signs telling them that they were being recorded. The surveillance equipment costs about $5,500, he said, but will be worth the investment in the long run.

“We’re using the information we record to get back what was stolen and prosecute those individuals,” he said.

Nationwide, there is about one gasoline theft for every 1,100 fill-ups, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores. The average loss per gas station nationally was $2,141 in 2004.

Gasoline thefts tend to increase every time prices go up, said Jeff Lenard, a spokesman for the organization based in Alexandria, Va. And with prices rising on an almost daily basis in recent weeks, it’s no surprise that thefts are rising in tandem.

“Unfortunately, it appears that gas drive-offs in 2005 will be much higher than 2004, unless prices drop drastically and quickly,” Lenard said.

At a Big Apple in Augusta, employees have to write down license plate numbers and press buttons to authorize fueling, said cashier Molly Cote.

“One day, one girl who works here had $130 worth of drive-offs in one eight-hour shift,” Cote said. “We’re lucky if we don’t get one a day.”

At the China Village General Store, owners Belinda and Ray Winn have decided to go to a prepay system when they’re busiest.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to do this prepay thing, and I hate it, but there wasn’t much of a choice,” said Belinda Winn.

Glen Laney, owner of Laney’s Pit Stop in Skowhegan, said he’s losing $200 to $300 a week from people who fill up their tanks but drive off without paying. He’s thinking about installing surveillance cameras and going to a prepay system at dusk.

“Course, you can’t buy cameras if they are stealing from you and you can’t afford it,” he said. “Nowadays you can’t trust anybody.”