Caught on video: Allentown woman says thief drilled hole into car to steal gas

A girl in Allentown, Pennsylvania, who didn’t need to be recognized, mentioned she and her neighbor had been victims of a latest theft.

She says somebody drilled a gap proper into her fuel tank. Residence safety video captured the alleged thief strolling round her automotive with a drill and a five-gallon bucket

Beforehand, criminals would siphon fuel to steal gas. However newer automobiles now have an anti-rollover valve, so thieves are actually drilling proper into the tank.
“It might be fairly simple on quite a lot of these newer automobiles, contemplating a lot of the fuel tanks are made out of plastic,” mentioned Mike Gibbons on Gibbon’s Automotive in Media.

The victims are left with with a hefty restore invoice.

“It could actually get fairly expensive, upwards of a $1,000 or extra,” mentioned Gibbons.

AAA says folks ought to be on their guard for the odor of fuel when approaching their car or for a puddle on the bottom close to the fuel tank.

Additionally, verify the gas gauge.

“Whether it is a lot decrease, that can also be an indication that maybe somebody drilled into your tank to steal your fuel,” mentioned AAA spokesperson Jana Tidwell.
She says the very first thing you must do is name the police and verify in along with your insurance coverage firm.

“Relying in your insurance coverage coverage, this may increasingly or not be lined as vandalism in opposition to your car,” mentioned Tidwell.

The sufferer in Allentown says she drove her automotive not realizing there was a gap within the fuel tank. She believes she might have been killed or injured.

Allentown police inform Motion Information a seek for the suspect is underway.