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Sorta like the other thread BUT this is theft.
Police: Man Used Key to Steal Gas
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Police: Man Used to Key to Steal Gas
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ST. LOUIS (AP) - St. Louis police have arrested a man suspected of re-programming service station gas pumps, allowing him to steal gasoline.
The crime cost several stations tens of thousands of dollars as hundreds of motorists drove away with free gas before operators realized what had happened.
Police were called Friday to a Mobil Food Mart where the owners said their store security cameras recorded the customer stealing the gas. They say he did it by opening the pump's locked door, then re-programming the pump to give away free fuel.
"He was overriding some how the computer program going straight to the tank," says Imran Kahn Lohdi, operator of Lion Petroleum Inc.
Police arrested a recent college graduate with a degree in accounting. When they searched the Cadillac Escalade he was driving, they discovered keys to pump lock boxes, and code books with computerized programs for the pumps.
Police say the man illegally purchased a key made by the pump manufacturer Gilbarco Veeder-Root, in Texas, where he went to school.
Lodhi is relieved the suspect was caught. More than 3,000 gallons of his gas were pumped before store managers noticed a problem.
Lodhi says he wants back the $8,000 he lost.
"We are going to try. We already talked to a lawyer, and we are going to go after him and make sure he got that punishment, that he doesn't do with any other people," says Lohdi.
Police say the suspect enlisted help from a 24-year-old acquaintance who now also faces charges.
Detectives say the man had no problem finding vulnerable pumps as he traveled to and from Texas to school.
Owners of a gas station who were victimized this week have already removed the programmable key pads from their gas pumps, but it won't stop some thieves from getting inside. That's because the same company issued key can unlock thousands of Gilbarco pumps nationwide.
A Gilbarco Veeder-Root spokeswoman declined a taped interview but did say, "The company has been working with St. Louis police to aid in the investigation," and that, "local service station operators are encouraged to change key pad codes to prevent theft."
But she confirmed the same key will open thousands of their pumps across the country.
The spokeswoman also says that they also refer operators to locksmiths who will change the locks on the pumps for extra security.
Van O'Cain, New Media Manager
Updated: 5/9/2006 3:25:34 PM
KSDK & Associated Press
Police: Man Used Key to Steal Gas
Video
Police: Man Used to Key to Steal Gas
E-mail This Article
Printable Version
ST. LOUIS (AP) - St. Louis police have arrested a man suspected of re-programming service station gas pumps, allowing him to steal gasoline.
The crime cost several stations tens of thousands of dollars as hundreds of motorists drove away with free gas before operators realized what had happened.
Police were called Friday to a Mobil Food Mart where the owners said their store security cameras recorded the customer stealing the gas. They say he did it by opening the pump's locked door, then re-programming the pump to give away free fuel.
"He was overriding some how the computer program going straight to the tank," says Imran Kahn Lohdi, operator of Lion Petroleum Inc.
Police arrested a recent college graduate with a degree in accounting. When they searched the Cadillac Escalade he was driving, they discovered keys to pump lock boxes, and code books with computerized programs for the pumps.
Police say the man illegally purchased a key made by the pump manufacturer Gilbarco Veeder-Root, in Texas, where he went to school.
Lodhi is relieved the suspect was caught. More than 3,000 gallons of his gas were pumped before store managers noticed a problem.
Lodhi says he wants back the $8,000 he lost.
"We are going to try. We already talked to a lawyer, and we are going to go after him and make sure he got that punishment, that he doesn't do with any other people," says Lohdi.
Police say the suspect enlisted help from a 24-year-old acquaintance who now also faces charges.
Detectives say the man had no problem finding vulnerable pumps as he traveled to and from Texas to school.
Owners of a gas station who were victimized this week have already removed the programmable key pads from their gas pumps, but it won't stop some thieves from getting inside. That's because the same company issued key can unlock thousands of Gilbarco pumps nationwide.
A Gilbarco Veeder-Root spokeswoman declined a taped interview but did say, "The company has been working with St. Louis police to aid in the investigation," and that, "local service station operators are encouraged to change key pad codes to prevent theft."
But she confirmed the same key will open thousands of their pumps across the country.
The spokeswoman also says that they also refer operators to locksmiths who will change the locks on the pumps for extra security.
Van O'Cain, New Media Manager
Updated: 5/9/2006 3:25:34 PM
KSDK & Associated Press
Comments
That is a pretty good prank.
Now, make him pay restitution, and give him a year in prison.