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By rdnewsNOW Staff

A sneaky "leak"

Red Deer RCMP warn residents of gasoline thefts

Apr 7, 2022 | 5:19 PM

Red Deer RCMP are alerting residents of a recent trend in which criminals are drilling into vehicle gas tanks to steal gasoline.

Since March 31, 2022, RCMP say they have had seven reports of gas tanks drilled in to, or gas lines cut, for the purpose of stealing gasoline. Vehicles which have been targeted so far generally have a higher ground clearance, giving access to the gas tank.

“We are watching this new trend closely. Given the current price of gasoline, and the potential for prices to continue to rise throughout the spring and summer, we anticipate these thefts may continue,” said Corporal Evans. “We need residents to report suspicious activity to police; if something doesn’t feel right, let us know so we can look into it.”

Police recommend the public take the following steps to deter criminals:

• Park in well lit areas.
• When possible, park in a garage or secure area.
• Ensure any home security cameras are operational and register cameras with Red Deer RCMP’s CAPTURE registry. The registry helps police to identify suspects if a crime occurs, and registrants are given decals to ensure unwanted visitors are made aware of surveillance cameras in the area.

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“If someone notices their gas tank has been vandalized, they should call our non-emergency line to report the issue right away,” said Cpl. Evans. “Don’t move the vehicle, but do your best to contain any spills until emergency responders arrive to assist with clean up.”

The public are asked to report all suspicious activity, with particular attention given to unfamiliar people or vehicles, especially at night. This can be reported to the police non-emergency line at 403-343-5575 or online.