Thief Targets Police Precinct

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Gas siphoned from officer's personal car
Posted: 10:47 PM Jul 21, 2008
Last Updated: 12:23 AM Jul 22, 2008
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

6 comments

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With gas prices up, fuel has become a hot commodity among thieves looking for opportunities to steal it and no one is immune, not even the police.

Police cars parked outside the southwest precinct at 96th Street and Mockingbird Drive were apparently no deterrent to a gas siphoning thief.

“I don't know what would be going through the mind of a criminal that would be that bold to steal gas from a police officer's vehicle in a police lot," says Omaha Police Union President Aaron Hanson.

Two police officers finishing shifts reported their personal cars hit. One lost at least five gallons while the other found evidence someone tried to pry open his locked gas cap. Though the precinct is located in an unmarked building, the cruisers parked nearby were an obvious sign of a police presence.

With the reported theft and attempted theft of gas from two private vehicles belonging to police officers, the police division is considering upgrading security at the precinct. That would include adding a security camera and improving lighting in the parking lot.

As gas prices go up, a locked gas cap might be a good investment. “They work, they're not foolproof, but for 25 bucks it's pretty good insurance to save yourself the hassle of someone siphoning out of your tank,” says auto expert Jim Champion.

Champion says many newer cars have a ball plug to prevent fires in rollover accidents and that also restricts siphoning, but he's seen reports of thieves drilling holes in plastic tanks on newer vehicles. “They get underneath probably with a cordless drill, drill up through the tank, put a pan underneath."

The theft of gas from an officer's car has the police union president thinking about crime prevention of his own. “I don't have a locking gas cap,” says Hanson. “I may invest in one."

The city prosecutor says siphoning gas is a misdemeanor with tough penalties, six months in jail and a $500 fine, but prosecutions are rare because you would have to catch a gas thief in the act.

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Posted by: Anon on Jul 23, 2008 at 02:49 PM
So old fashioned, was that police car that drove by the person out of gas in service or were they on their way to a call? Who are you do decide whether or not that officer was doing right or wrong? Maybe the officer really wanted to help, but thought it might be a little more important to get to that domestic violence call or the intrusion alarm that just may be valid. Cops don't go lights and sirens to all their calls so don't assume that when you see one that you THINK is ignoring something that they are not on their way to handle something important.

Posted by: KLynn on Jul 22, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Wow, citizen. That sounds kind of like a threat. Why do you hate the police so much, did you not pass the test? You don't think police officers homes are ever robbed or their cars ever hit and run? They are not in some magical land that nothing happens to them, they suffer family loss and have bad days too. Why does everybody treat them like they are not allowed a bad day or a mistake, I bet you are perfect though, huh? The only difference is in your job, you mess up somebodys drive thru order and it doesn't get plastered all over the news for people to hate and bash you. Get over yourself.

Posted by: scary. on Jul 22, 2008 at 02:57 PM
It's not about 5 gallons of gas. It is about a place that the officers should feel safe, when they have put away their police hat for the night they should feel safe walking to their cars. I think it is about the feeling that they were violated in a place where they should be protected. They shouldn't have to worry that somebody is hiding in between their cars in the middle of the night. The job they do is not the same as my nursing job or your office job. People are crazy and goes to show, maybe this is why they are 'on' all the time, it only takes one or two people to burn you before you start suspecting them all in a career like this. Just get them home safe.

Posted by: old fashioned i guess on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:44 PM
i would say that this just makes up for one or two of the times the police have passed by someone out of gas and did'nt help or when they drive past someone walking in the rain and don't offer a ride to a dry place.....police just don't give a crap anymore....they just want everything to go right for themselves and then retire early on a huge pension....screw the public!???

Posted by: of course on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:30 AM
beef up security at the precinct so the COPS dont become VICTIMS!!!!

Posted by: citizen on Jul 22, 2008 at 07:22 AM
to Aaron Hanson: your cops were hit because your police skills, or the lack thereof, are not taken seriously. You get upset when you are violated, but you and yours insult and ignore the public when we are hit. You and you fellow union officers have 2 standards and the public suffers. you have a touch of what we go through, but you won't learn..........