By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Gas thieves drain fun out of date night for local woman

Mar 13, 2018 | 11:14 AM

An Alix woman just trying to enjoy date night had it all end in unfortunate fashion.

This past Saturday, Amber Stang met her boyfriend for a movie at Galaxy Cinemas in Gasoline Alley.

She says she backed her Jeep into a parking spot across from Staples by the snowbank near Costco and left to go into the theatre around 6 p.m. When she returned at around 1 a.m., her previously full gas tank was mysteriously low.

Upon further inspection, Stang realized there was fuel pouring from the bottom of the tank.

She left her recently purchased Jeep overnight and returned in the morning to find drill shavings on the ground where she was parked and by other nearby vehicles.

Ground School Training

New aviation career pathway elevates opportunities for students

6h ago

4-7 p.m. Wednesday

City to host downtown parking feedback session

8h ago

Albertafirebans.ca

Fire advisories, restrictions, and bans in place for much of central Alberta

9h ago

Stang surmises thieves stole gas from hers and three or four other vehicles nearby.

“It’s kind of a faith in humanity gone moment. There’s nothing you can really do about it,” she says. “We’ll get her fixed. It’s patched and drivable. It just kind of sucks.”

Stang says it’s unfortunate that people have to resort to being criminals and having no respect. Her Facebook post about the incident has nearly 1500 shares.

“A lot of people are quite a bit more angry about it than I am,” she points out. “Honestly it really looks like people are just tired of this, so tired of everything we all work for getting taken advantage of by people who have no respect.”

Rather than pay her insurance deductible, Stang said it was cheaper to purchase a new gas tank for her Jeep.

“We shouldn’t have to modify our vehicles to prevent people from destroying things,” she goes on. “If they put half as much effort into finding legal means to support things, we wouldn’t have these issues. At least carry a bolt and plug the hole when you’re done.”

Blackfalds RCMP say they’ve only received one report of damage. Mounties encourage anyone with information or businesses with surveillance footage to come forward.