Criminals are always looking for new methods of stealing from the public, and a new trend has started sweeping the nation at gas stations. The unfortunate truth of the matter is that gas stations are often targeted by those trying to skim a little off the top, even if not in the illegal sense. Vagrants and beggars tend to hang around gas stations since they are aware it is one of the few remaining hubs where cash is frequently used, and they understand that most people visiting the gas station are alone. This creates a perfect target, and depending on the level of sophistication of the criminal, it may provide the perfect opportunity for theft.
A classic yet highly sophisticated gas station theft technique involves a fake credit card scanner that is placed over the existing legitimate terminal on the pump. These scanners are often hard to identify since they appear exactly the same as the legit scanner, and they fit cleanly over the surface so as to not arouse suspicion. While this technique is dangerous, there are others that are far less complex. One such method involves merely stealing the physical possessions of a gas station patron while they pump their fuel.
The scam works quite simply. The victim parks next to the pump and starts to pump gas. The thief will then park next to the victim under the pretext of parking at the adjacent pump. While the patron is distracted by pumping gas, the thief will attempt to open any unlocked doors in the victim’s car. If they find one, they’ll steal everything they can before the patron stops pumping. They load it into their own car and drive away before they are even noticed.
