Gas drive-off numbers leap in Davenport
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As gas prices go, so goes the number of gas drive-offs.
The number of people pulling away from the pump without paying in Davenport more than doubled between January and April, with no signs of slowing in May, statistics from the police department released Tuesday showed.
In January, gas stations reported 26 people leaving without paying for gas. That compares to April, when clerks and managers made 57 such reports.
Of 156 reports in those four months, police tracked down 49 offenders so far. More discoveries are anticipated.
“They are all over the place,” said James Warner, known as the “gas drive-off guru” of the Davenport Police Department. The department began a program several years ago to combat the thefts, tracking the people and cars responsible for leaving the scene without paying.
Offenders are sometimes allowed to pay the business once caught, to avoid legal action, officials said. Repeat offenders are ticketed or arrested. Those convicted twice of stealing gas can have their driver’s license suspended.
The most recent arrest in Davenport was of Tiffany Denise Morgan, 21, who is accused of stealing $30 in gas in one incident. Her car was involved in a theft from a second location of $25, officials said.
Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards have significantly decreased the number of drive-offs by requiring customers to either pay before pumping or pay at the pump with a credit or debit card, said Greg Evans, vice president.
They have fewer than one or two a month at their 19 locations, he said.
“The more stations that go to prepay, the ones that are not prepay are going to get hit more with gas drive-offs,” Evans said. “The people who do this stake out the stores who aren’t prepay and wait until the clerk is busy.”
Warner has one piece of advice for law-abiding gas consumers to avoid ending up in his pile of accused offenders: If using a debit or credit card to pay, “get a receipt.”
Gas thefts
The theft of gasoline from retail dealers such as service stations and convenience stores has shown a steady increase during the first four months of 2008:
Thefts Recoveries
January 26 11
February 33 10
March 40 12
April 57 16
Source: Davenport Police Department
Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or amcglynn@qctimes.com.
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