Tank-drilling gas bandits fuel anger of 2 Langley truck owners

There hasbeen a rash of gas thefts in Langley B.C., with a twist ofa drill bit.

Thieves are puncturing gas tanks to drain the valuable contents, with fuel prices hitting record levels at 160.9 cents per litrein Vancouver.

They're mostly targeting trucks or vehicles with larger capacity gas tanks, according to auto repair shops and tow truck drivers in the area.

Brent Theilade found himself standing in a puddle of gas-soaked pavement early Monday morning when he got to his Dodge Ram on his way to work at a garden wholesalerandfound his tank empty.

"I was angry at first. I'd just filled up $120 the day before," said the Langley man, who parked in the Walnut Grove Drive of North Langley.

The gascap, which does not lock,was secure, but a check under the truck revealed a dripping tank.

Then he noticed a note on his windshield.

It was from the driver who parked behind him, warning that a hole had been drilled in his 98-litre tank by gas thieves who made off with up to $150 worth of gas.

He called a tow service and headed to the auto repair shop, where his fears were confirmed.

To replace the punctured plastic tank on his Dodge Ram with a new tank would cost up to $2,200, plus the labour.

Theilade went for a cheaper used tank, but still had tocome up withthe $300 deductiblebefore the Insurance Corporation of B.C. wouldpay to replace the tank.

And he's not alone.

Grant McMillanhadparked his Dodge Ram pickup on the same street and lost about $100 worth of gas.

He said the stenchtipped him off, so he wrote the note to warn the other truck owner.

"I thought, 'What a dumb thing. It would have been easier just to give the thieves $100,'" saidMcMillan,whose truck hadnot yet been repaired.

Calls to five otherauto body repair shops in Langleyconfirmed at least five cases of punctured tanks in the past two weeks alone.

This type of theft is rare, but has happened before in Edmonton and Burnaby, B.C.

Rick Cosco,owner of Big O Tires in North Langley, said he's seeing a rise in the number of incidents at his shop.

"We are getting this more and more because of the cost of fuel. It seems to be getting worse."

Replacing a punctured tanktakes a few hours, after it's ordered.

He said thieves mostly target pickup trucks Dodge or Ford vehicles with large, expensive-to-fill plastic fuel tanks.

That way, there's no risk of sparking while drilling a metal tank, but Cosco said it's still dangerous, as a lot of the flammable liquid ends up on the pavement.

"They walk away leaving a big puddle of fuel on the ground," he said.

It is expensive up to $2,400 with labour included and inconvenient to fix.

Theiladesaid he's over what happened to him, but hopes he's not hit by tank drillers again.

"I lost a tank of gas, but I'm not going to lose my mind over this.

"But I would have rathered them siphon it because drilling a hole in somebody's tank of gas is just worse than ever. You already stole my gas. Now you ruined my vehicle."

RCMPare investigating Theilade'sincident andat least one other involving the man who was parked behind him, but saidthefts under $5,000 are common, and there's no easy way to track how many incidentsinclude gas siphoning or stealing.