You may not mean to do it, but gas stations in northeast Wisconsin are beginning to protect themselves just in case you drive off without paying. Gas prices have increased 22 percent across the country in the last two weeks, which amounts to almost 80 cents a gallon according to Chicago Tribune. It has led to thieves stealing gas directly from cars by either siphoning it or drilling a hole in the tank in places like Atlanta and British Columbia. CTV in Toronto reported that one local gas station has seen its drive-offs double in recent weeks, costing them as much as $200 in some instances. Drive-offs are a habitual offense in Door County, according to Door County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Pat McCarty. He says the offenders are often hard to track down and often did not mean to do it in the first place.
Some gas stations like Baileys 57 in Baileys Harbor are following the lead of Kwik Trip and others in the area by requiring motorists to pre-pay for their fuel purchases. Baileys 57 manager Kari Baumann knows many of the drive-offs are accidental, but current gas prices forced them to make a tough decision.
McCarty recommends printing off a receipt to ensure that your transaction went through.
