Rising gasoline prices spur thefts, violence (switching to prepay policy)

[sabra]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9050231/

Rising gasoline prices spur thefts, violence
Many station owners switching to prepay policy to deter crime

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - The death of an Alabama service station owner illustrates the point that a gasoline industry group makes over and over to its members: Losing money during a drive-off isn’t worth losing your life.

Husain “Tony” Caddi, 54, died Friday after being run over by a driver who police believe wasn’t going to pay for $52 worth of fuel. Police are searching for the driver of the gold or tan Jeep-style SUV.

With gasoline prices soaring, industry experts predict the number of drive-offs — and violence — will increase.

“It’s a very difficult situation, and you’re never sure how people are going to react,” said Sam Turner, president of Calfee Co. of Dalton, Ga., which operates 114 Favorite Markets convenience stores in the South.

[Arkansas Democrat]

1. This is just peachy!!

I'm hearing that the gasoline prices will go down after Labor Day but the question is HOW MUCH??

[Neshanic]

2. Prepay with cash has been standard in AZ for least three years.

[bdot]

3. How do you get gas when there is no attendant?

I work 3rd shift and get gas when there is no attendant. I guess I would no longer have to go to work.
Unless you are refering to only people who pay with cash.

[Neshanic]

4. No stations here sell gas, unless someone is there.

Most stations are open 24 hours.

[CitrusLib]

5. Experts fear thefts, violence to rise with gas prices

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/23/gas.rage.ap/index.html

MONTGOMERY, Alabama (AP) -- The death of an Alabama service station owner illustrates the point that a gasoline industry group makes over and over to its members: Losing money during a drive-off isn't worth losing your life.

Husain "Tony" Caddi, 54, died Friday after being run over by a driver who police believe wasn't going to pay for $52 worth of fuel. Police are searching for the driver of the gold or tan Jeep-style SUV.

[benburch]

6. I know where to start looking!

The user lists on FR.

[MindPilot]

7. When I first heard about this, I asked how is it possible to steal gas?

I don't think I've been to a pump & pay station since the 70's but I guess they are still out there.

[Coventina]

Believe it or not, I ran into one in LA this summer!

It was a small independent station in Redondo Beach.

I hadn't seen one for ages either!

[Coventina]

8. Self delete Duplicate post

Stupid fumble fingers!
:eyes:

[B3Nut]

9. Most of the stations around here

are pump'n'pay...sometimes you have to prepay after dark, but I had never seen prepay-only stations until a few years ago when I went to Nevada. Growing up in VA, living in MI and now WI, most stations were pump'n'pay. Though prepay-only is just fine with us as we use a card exclusively for gas and pay it off each month, so we just pay at the pump.

Todd in Beerbratistan

[MadisonProgressive]

24. In Wisconsin, almost all stations are pump & pay

[FreedomToons]

10. Here we go again: oil prices on the rise

http://www.freedomtoons.org/



http://www.freedomtoons.org/show_toon.php?id=000029

[Mairead]

11. The really saddening part is: from his name, he was from the

Semitic Region, and probably Muslim. I wonder whether that figured into the killer-thief's decision to rip him off.

[KansDem]

12. Prepay is a drag...

You pull up to the pump...

You go inside to give them your "deposit..."

You wait in line behind several people buying cigarettes, lottery tickets, coffee, dough-nuts, more lottery tickets, coca-cola, chips, those things called Slim-Jims, more lottery tickets, high-fructose corn-syrup based refreshments, more cigarettes, more lottery tickets...

You give them two $20 bills throught the tiny window in the bullet proof glass...

You go back to your car...

You wait until someone inside throws the switch, changing the message on the pump from "One moment please" to "Start fueling..."

You pump the gas and put $37.90 in your tank...

You go inside to get your change...

You wait in line behind several people buying cigarettes, lottery tickets, coffee, dough-nuts, more lottery tickets, coca-cola, chips, those things called Slim-Jims, more lottery tickets, high-fructose corn-syrup based refreshments, more cigarettes, more lottery tickets...

You then have to give the "associate" your pump number and amount...

You get your change through the tiny window in the bullet-proof glass, while the "associate" mechanically thanks you without ever looking at you...

You go back to your car...

You leave...

You think, "Ain't it grand to be living here instead of Europe!"

[drumz4hire]

13. Debit cards rock....

don't even have to go inside :)

[mccoyn]

14. And the kicker, its in the stations best interest to annoy you.

Discouraging cash payment means the stations don't need as many attendants. If people can save time by using a card, many will.

[Systematic Chaos]

15. Here in Vegas it's the only way.

When I went to Minnesota in the early 90's and got a job at a convenience store and found out people could pump and THEN pay, I freaked. And the one time I had a large drive-off, I got a perfect description of the van and its license number. The police said they couldn't do anything because the DRIVER was obscured behind the pump, so I didn't get HIS description. When they sent an officer anyway to "talk to me", I was rude as hell and basically said that if he couldn't track down and arrest the thief of almost $40 worth of $1.25/gallon gas, and he wasn't going to make a purchase, then he needed to stop loitering in my store so I could go about my work. I didn't give a fuck if I got arrested at that point. I was that angry.

[BiggJawn]

16. I KNOW I like you!

Not only do you Ride to Live, but you don't take no shit from the local donut tester, either....:-)

[Systematic Chaos]

17. Hey thanks!

I don't like taking shit from anyone. So imagine how fine a line I have to walk when I go to work and deal with stupid, drunk gamblers all day. :rofl:

Somehow, though, I've managed to keep the same job for 5 1/2 years.

[Mika]

18. Hey GG, got a tip for yer legs

:hi:

I just scanned your blog. Good to see you're giving riding a good shot. :thumbsup:

There is a lot of serious & nasty swill on the road that gets sprayed onto your legs by your front wheel. I know several people who have leg skin problems from this. Try coating your legs with some type of barrier before you ride (vaseline works).

I have ridden 7500 miles in the last year and have lost a lot of weight as well as improved my cardio tremendously. Plan on increasing significantly this year.

Best of luck to your riding. Keep it up. You're doing well. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Stay safe out there.

[txindy]

19. Most stations around here are pump THEN pay

I've seen some that insist on prepayment, first, but most are pump before paying. This is in Texas. I use a credit card, so it's all the same to me, but the few times I've used cash, it was a hideously looooooong experience. Esp. with kids in tow.

[MadisonProgressive]

20. Observers fear thefts, violence to rise with gas prices

MONTGOMERY, Alabama (AP) -- The death of an Alabama service station owner illustrates the point that a gasoline industry group makes over and over to its members: Losing money during a drive-off isn't worth losing your life.

Husain "Tony" Caddi, 54, died Friday after being run over by a driver who police believe wasn't going to pay for $52 worth of fuel. Police are searching for the driver of the gold or tan Jeep-style SUV.

With gasoline prices soaring, industry experts predict the number of drive-offs -- and violence -- will increase.

"It's a very difficult situation, and you're never sure how people are going to react," said Sam Turner, president of Calfee Co. of Dalton, Georgia, which operates 114 Favorite Markets convenience stores in the South.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/23/gas.rage.ap/index.html

[Journeyman]

21. Gas lines are very dangerous. Here's the story of my last line. . .

Last gas line I was in, the cars were all spread down one street waiting to get into the corner gas station. Drivers waited at the entrance until the car at the pump left the station. I'd been there about an hour and was three or four cars from the driveway.

Suddenly, a Cadillac cut diagonally across intersection, barrelled in front of the line, and took a newly vacant spot at the pump.
The next guy in line, who'd just started to move into the station, yelled at the boatman: "Hey, there's a line here. Get to the end and wait your turn."

The Cadillac creep ignored him, opened his gas door and removed his cap. He then noticed he had to pay inside before dispensing. Without a glance at the highly-irate line, he walked into the station's office to pay.

The guy at the front of the line, who'd waited so long and now been displaced, looked at the Cadillac for a moment then calmly opened his own gas cap door, removed his locking cap, marched across the station lot and slammed his cap onto the Cadillac's open gas pipe. He then walked back to his car and wisely drove away.

Moments later, after much yelling and quite a dance around the station, the Cadillac driver left, too. Without his gas but with two gas caps.

[Sequoia]

22. All gas stations should make you pay first like they do in California

[CatholicEdHead]

23. Is it time for locking gas caps yet?

Eventually siophing from your tank may be en vogue.