Gas thieves leave several boats sitting high and dryBy Nita Birmingham (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Sunday, June 29, 2008
With gas prices hovering just under $4 a gallon, thieves are thinking of new ways to fill up for free. Gas thefts have been reported recently from activity buses and even a patrol car parked in the yard of an officer who lives in Dorchester County. Now, a local businessman is seeing an increase in gas thefts from boats. "This is the first summer we've seen it, and we've seen four incidents of it in the last seven to 10 days," said Anthony Noury, owner and general manager of Sea Tow of Charleston. Thefts have occurred from boats parked in driveways, docked at marinas and stored in neighborhood facilities, Noury said. Sea Tow delivered gas Saturday afternoon to a man who had 60 gallons siphoned out of his 21-foot Sea Fox parked in his driveway off Glenn McConnell Parkway, Noury said. Sea Tow also has delivered gas to boaters who ran dry in the Morris Island area and James Island Creek at the Ashley River. "They can't believe they have no fuel in their boats, and they know they filled it up the evening before," Noury said. Several local marinas referred questions about gas thefts to administrative offices that were closed Saturday. Jennifer Chapman, dock manager at Bristol Marina on Lockwood Drive, said it hasn't been a problem there. Some boaters out Saturday at the Wappoo Cut Public Boat Landing said they weren't worried about gas thefts. "I live in a safe neighborhood," West Ashley resident John Griswold said as he and three friends prepared to pull his 20-foot boat from the water. But thefts are understandable with gas prices so high, he said. It costs Griswold more than $300 to fill the boat's 80-gallon tank. "If it goes up higher, maybe it's something I should be concerned about," Austin Evans said. Evans keeps his boat in the yard of his James Island home. An employee of Boater's World Marine Center, which has locations in Charleston and Mount Pleasant, said the store can order locking gas caps but doesn't usually keep them in stock. Reach Nita Birmingham at 937-5433 or nbirmingham@ postandcourier.com. |
Article tools |
|
Notice about comments: Charleston.net is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not charleston.net. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Full terms and conditions can be read here. |
Comments
This article has 18 comment(s)
Posted by Thomas1776 on June 29, 2008 at 3:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Something as cheap as cameras that are motion detection activated ... .. . and they are so small that people really don't notice them or even see them.
Seen any trucks with barrels or several large orange gas containers on the back during early the evening? I guess car lots will be next to get hit. Or are they already?
Don't hesitate to call the cops if you see anything odd or suspicious. Gas prices are not every going down - only up. Greed has taken over and it's totally out of control. Blame OPEC. Not demand.
Posted by gamecockcougar on June 29, 2008 at 7:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If we elect Obama all of the none cent will stop
Posted by Brutus1 on June 29, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Pop a cap in there behinds.
Posted by RTC on June 29, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Locking gas caps may be a deterrent, but they won't stop a thief. If they want the gas badly enough they will just punch a hole in the tank, and siphon or drain it dry.
Posted by beth1070 on June 29, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Excuse me, pardon me while I laugh my head off hysterically...but are you suggesting that electing Obama will fix the gas crisis????
Posted by JohnS on June 29, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
21 ft Sea Fox. Did you not look at the gas gage before you went out?
Posted by Johnq2 on June 29, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
beth1070- You wrote:
"Excuse me, pardon me while I laugh my head off hysterically...but are you suggesting that electing Obama will fix the gas crisis????"
Why do you laugh? I seriously doubt anyone could screw it up any worse than the republicans and Bush have.
If you think those in power now will do anything different if re elected other than serve the thirst of the greedy oil industry you are living in a dream world.
The sooner those who voted in Bush and his henchmen realize they have been sold out by their party and vote accordingly the sooner we can elect responsible leadership and begin to recover our once great nation back from the warmongering thugs.
Posted by drp7773 on June 29, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tie them up in an old wooden boat, go out to the swamps and and a couple of bullits in the bottom of the boat and alligators and snakes will take care of the rest...Scum....
Posted by southerngirl45 on June 29, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
beth1070 I'm laughing right along with you!!!!!!!I think however we better cry instead.If Obama becomes president, we will be wishing we had the life of illegals!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Smart_Enough_2_Know_Better on June 29, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Do you two idiots honestly believe that gas will be cheaper four years from now if- and only if- Obama is elected? I get that you don't like Geo. Bush and his "henchman", but how about elaborating on your theory of what Obama will do to make all this better?
How can either of you expect people to take you seriously if you can't offer even a shred of an argument as to exactly what it is that Obama would do differently to fix the situation, let alone spell nonsense correctly?
Posted by Perspective on June 29, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You think things are bad now, wait til Obama gets in the White House. Granted the republicans are not doing a good job, but we are about to see the biggest historical disaster in American politics. Inexperience and rhetoric for change isn't going to fix anything.
Posted by amylrod on June 29, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
looks as if more security is going to be needed by means of personnel, cameras, motion detectors and alarms. I like the alligator and snake method....attack dogs...booby traps...I am sure if one wants to protect private fuel, some measures are just going to have to be employed. Then, when the culprits are caught, impound their vehicles and sell them off to raise money for charities. Just a thought. Make it so crime doesn't pay and hardships will follow.
Posted by SmooveB on June 29, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Having gas stolen from a parked patrol car is pretty darn funny. Talk about the huevos it takes to pull that off. Bravo!
Posted by PalmettoDP on June 29, 2008 at 7:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've been having problems with water accumulating in my boat's fuel tank since all the stations starting mixing ethanol in with the gas - I'm sure other boaters have as well. Some of these theives will wish they had just paid for a tank of gas after all the problems stolen boat fuel will cause in a car engine.
Posted by Slick50 on June 30, 2008 at 5:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
...and even a patrol car parked in the yard of an officer who lives in Dorchester County.
As many unattended patrol cars you see parked in strip malls, it is a wonder they haven't all been drained dry.
Posted by number1volsfan1 on June 30, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Two weeks ago someone stole 10 gallons from my truck (which I have since fitted with a locking cap). The following weekend I filled a five gallon gas can with kerosene and set it outside beside my truck. The next morning the can of kerosene was gone. I'm surprised I didn't read about the poor crook who ruined his engine with kerosene.
Posted by Marianne0558 on June 30, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you idiots seriously think Bush is to blame for gas prices, you need some education. Those who think Obama can fix it need even more.
The problem is INFLATION!
The Federal Reserve is making too much money. It makes the prices for everything rise. This happened not too long ago either.
They put a price cap on gas prices and it took an hour just to get ONE gallon of gas.
You hate the gas prices? Go to the Federal Reserve and tell them to quit making more money!!
Posted by prosperous_hb on June 30, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
number1volsfan1....that's a good idea. Next time, you should fill the gas can with sugar....lol.