Peel Regional Police, who commonly refer to the crime as "pump 'n' run," say stealing gas is a serious offence, and offenders won't be treated lightly.
"We take every allegation of a criminal offence seriously and the theft of gas is no different," said Cst. Samantha Nulle. "We will work to make sure every one of the culprits is found and prosecuted."
Police don't keep statistics on pump 'n' runs, so Nulle couldn't say if, in fact, the crime is on the rise.
But with prices hovering around $1.30 per litre, gas station workers have called and e-mailed The News in recent weeks regarding what they believe to be an increase in these types of thefts.
"It's been crazy," said Ranjit Mahanti, who works at a Sunoco station in Meadowvale. "I am almost getting one (gas theft) per shift. They like to do it when it's busy."
This morning alone, there were three incidents in Peel, including one at an Esso on Airport Rd. at about 10 a.m. in which a stolen Plymouth fled with a full tank of gas.
About an hour later, a silver Dodge Caravan made off with gas on Bovaird Dr. in Brampton.
Nulle said that, generally, gas station workers are cooperating with investigators in terms of providing vehicle descriptions and turning over surveillance camera footage.
lrosella@mississauga.net
