REPORTER: Justin, gas here costs more than $4.00 a gallon right now. Police believe someone used a tool similar to this one to pry open the pump and not pay a penny.
CUSTOMER: High gas prices and no jobs, this is what happens, I guess.
REPORTER: You can still see the pry marks on the pump at this BP.
CUSTOMER: I think it’s crazy. People are extremely desperate now a days.
REPORTER: Owner Robert Eves says someone broke into several pumps at his station, disabled the gas gauge, and stole about 1,200 gallons of gas worth $5,200. A big dent for this small business owner.
GAS STATION OWNER: I think the people who are doing it see the BP sign, think it’s big oil, they’ll never miss it. But in reality—I’m a father, a husband, I’m trying to make ends meet as well. Times are tough, because I can tell it is kind of like hitting the guy while he is down.
REPORTER: He told us that they struck over the last several days, likely in broad daylight with other cars around.
OWNER: They’ve learned to do it pretty quickly now, and they’re—trying to cover it up. And be in and out real quick. So—going to take a few more security measures.
REPORTER: Police say they’re now investigating to see who could be behind it. Eves hopes they don’t come back.
OWNER: I think it hopefully won’t take too long to bring them to justice.
REPORTER: And he tells me there could be a clue. He believes one of the suspects came into the store and pre-paid for gas to get the pump going. He may have him on surveillance video. They’re looking through that. They also believe they may have a license plate to give the police. Live, Roswell, Mike Petchenik Channel 2 Action News.
ANCHOR: And now more details on a gas theft case in Decatur. They say a thief stole 400 gallons of fuel in a matter of minutes, and that the thief rigged the pump so drivers who came afterwards paid pennies on the dollar.