The skyrocketing gas prices over the past few weeks mean motorists are having to dig much, much deeper into their pockets to fill their tanks, but there are some drivers who think it’s a steal of a deal — literally.
Greater Sudbury Police said they have seen a significant increase in the number of gas-and-dash thefts across the region as gasoline prices remain at record-high levels.
From Jan. 1, 2020 to March 10, 2022, there have been 111 gasoline drive-off thefts reported to GSPS, said spokesperon Kaitlyn Dunn. There were 44 such thefts in all of 2020, and only 31 such thefts last year, as gas prices during the pandemic dipped lower than $1 a litre for a little while.
Now that the price of gas is nearing $2 a litre, there have been 35 such thefts this year alone, four more in less than three months than in all of 2021.
“Unfortunately, there appears to be a correlation between the increasing gas prices and the increase in the number of gas drive-off thefts,” said Dunn.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is sending the price of gas through the roof.
Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, told Sudbury.com last week the price of gas was expected to increase to $2.03 as of Thursday. While that didn’t happen, and the price of gas here dipped slightly, it’s still the most Sudburians have ever paid for gas, “bar none,” he said.
Of the 111 gas-and-dash thefts since the start of 2020, more than a third of them have happened in New Sudbury, primarily along Lasalle Boulevard, said Dunn.
GSPS is conducting outreach to local gas stations through education and awareness and is encouraging gas station owners to limit payment options to pre-paid options.
“We also encourage gas station owners or managers to install video surveillance equipment and to ensure that CCTV equipment is operational once installed,” said Dunn.
Gas station employees and owners are encouraged to report gas drive-off thefts online as this information assists officers in conducting investigations into the incidents, said Dunn.
Gas drive-off theft is considered a theft under $5,000 under the Criminal Code of Canada and carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
