High gas prices, more drive-offs

[Alexandra]

Who else has some drive-off stories?

Here in Ohio you are required to have a front license plate on your car. A cashier at Speedway was telling my husband that someone pulled up to a pump--NO front plate on--pumped about $50 worth of gas, did NOT pay for it--they backed up onto the side street and took off.

I've also heard that there are some gas stations that make the employees pay for what these idiots stole, which I don't think is right.

More gas stations in my area are going to pre-pay because of these jackasses.

[ditchdj]

I've also heard that there are some gas stations that make the employees pay for what these idiots stole, which I don't think is right.

I also heard that it's illegal for employers to do that too. The deal is the employee performs tasks that the employer wants done and pays the employee the wage that is agreed upon at the moment employment begins. An employer is NOT entitled to simply steal his/her employees' pay whenever they feel like it. If that was allowed bosses would be looting our paychecks for everything, In fact if I hear about a company doing that I'll report them to the Labor Department. And I can bet if some disgruntled employees filed a class-action suit and stood up to these kind of bosses this shit would stop REAL FAST!

[crazylegs]

Ya'll might want to look at some spike strips... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/s...re/4928000.stm

[Evil Queen]

Wow. I actually like that idea. The automatic spike strips. They used to be around in the 80's, I think. I wonder what happened to them?

[crazylegs]

Dunno, but he's going to end up a very rich man selling that idea over here.

[Alexandra]

Gas prices are about $4 a gallon in my area and people are starting to snap up locking gas caps.

These thieves are a type of entitlement whore...they feel they shouldn't have to pay that much, so they think they have a right to steal it.

[crazylegs]

Gas prices are about $4 a gallon in my area

Is that all? Over here its the equivilent of $6/gallon.

[Alexandra]

Is that all? Over here its the equivilent of $6/gallon.

Well, when prices keep shooting up and up and your income stays the same, it can be an issue.

$6 a gallon wouldn't be bad if you made $50 an hour.

[PepperElf]

back when i was buying gas in va, most places went to pre-pay and stayed

mom said the gas at home is up to over 4 bucks a gallon... i'm soooo using my bike when i go home.

[edible_hat]

Around here they've started using fake or stolen plates. It all looks perfectly normal, they get out of the car, fill up (sometimes even using the pre-sets) then give you the finger and drive away.

And a revenge story... my co-worker was watching the news and saw a story about a guy caught with 5 stolen cars. She recognised the guy from earlier that day (when he did a drive-off). It turns out that after she reported it, the (freshly stolen) car was seen by an undercover cop who followed it to the chop-shop. Also, all five stolen cars had done drive-offs from us. And we recovered the money.

[marasbaras]

Thieves suck, period.

I like the spike strips.

And, I like pre-pay.

[symposes]

Yea, since 1997, Minimum wage has not increased until recently, and it was only a little bit.

If you made 7 dollars an hour in 97, there is a slim chance you still make 7 dollars an hour in 2007. (not a big chance, but still)

in 97 gas was around 1.25 at most as far as i can remember. maybe less.

When gas was that cheap, noone was concerned with its price, and would just "burn" through it. hehe

but now that its up to 4.00 and more, people who still only make 7 to 8 dollars an hour, have to cut back significantly on their driving.

Its sad, but pay in most low end jobs has not kept up with the rate of inflation.

But what can you do eh? Well, you could get 20 roommates for a 1 bedroom apartment.
Oh wait, if you arent from mexico, thats illegal. (*my stepmom looked into the housing laws a few years ago, when she started to look for a way to sell her home, there were provisions that allowed Mexican and Latino people to live 20 to a home, but white and other american "races" werent allowed to have more then 4 or 5 people depending on the size of the dwelling... simply amazing if you ask me.)

[SuperB]

Unless they can prove the employee was in on it they can't legally force the employee to pay it. And any business that doesn't require pre-pay is just asking for it right now.

[morgana]

people are starting to snap up locking gas caps.

I got one. Got siphoned. Bastages.

[crazylegs]

I got one. Got siphoned. Bastages.

Be aware that eventually they'll either drill your fuel tank or cut your fuel lines, I would suggest parking your vehicle in secure parking.