Gas theft is a serious public safety concern that can result in explosions, damage to fuel filters and pumps, and even property destruction. Tell-tale signs of gas theft include the meter turned around, which may be done to hide the original dials and is a sure sign of meter tampering.
Tampering with a property’s gas meter can cause flames on the hob or gas fire to change size or burn more yellow than blue, and pilot lights may go out often. However, there are no signs of tampering with the meter itself. Energy theft is a dangerous practice that costs lives, causes injury, and destroys property annually.
Meter tampering is illegal and dangerous, as it can cause property damage and property damage. If a thief can access your meter, they can tamper with it. The revenue protection team within your energy company handles meter tampering.
Natural gas is flammable and combustible, and tampering with electricity and gas meters is not only dangerous but also illegal. Cheating a meter to avoid paying bills is classified as gas fraud. A flat with tampered gas pipes or meter can create enough build-up of gas over a few hours to turn that flat into a ticking time bomb.
The received tamper alarm message may be due to normal maintenance operation or an attempt of fraud. If there is no planned maintenance visit by the gas company, tampering with a gas meter is a serious public safety concern.
In summary, tampering with a gas meter is a serious public safety concern that can lead to explosions, damage to fuel filters and pumps, and property damage. It is crucial to be aware of these signs and take necessary steps to protect yourself and others.
📹 Why you should never tamper with your gas meter
… treble one treble nine and someone will come and do a check for safety and make sure everything is good if you ever smell gas …
How to tell if someone stole your gas?
The fuel level of the vehicle in question is demonstrably lower when the engine is started, whether or not the vehicle will subsequently commence operation. This is in contrast to the behaviour observed when the vehicle was parked.
How are thieves stealing gas?
Siphoning is a common method of gasoline theft whereby perpetrators insert a tube into a vehicle’s fuel tank, creating suction to draw out the gasoline. Modern cars are often equipped with locking fuel doors or anti-siphoning measures, which render this technique more challenging.
Is it safe to be around natural gas?
Natural gas poisoning can cause physical symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and irregular breathing. High levels can cause severe headaches, memory problems, loss of concentration, nausea, loss of consciousness, and suffocation. If you suspect natural gas leak symptoms, contact a healthcare professional immediately. An increase in home gas usage, typically seasonal, may indicate a leak, especially if there are unexplained increases in gas usage around your home.
How do you know if someone has put something in your gas tank?
Fuel tank contamination is a common issue that can occur in business owners or job foremen, as most fuel has some level of contamination from the moment it leaves the refinery. Common types of fuel tank contamination include water contamination due to vapor or time, particulates due to rust, dust, or pollen, microorganisms like yeast, fungi, or bacteria, and other fuel products like gasoline.
A simple test can show that fuel has been contaminated by water, with industry standards indicating no more than 30 parts per million. Particulates can float or settle to the bottom of the fuel tank, while microorganisms like yeast, fungi, or bacteria can contaminate fuel as soon as it leaves the refinery.
Hart Fueling provides fuel tank cleaning and diesel fuel polishing services to help business owners focus on their work. It is essential to be aware of these signs and take necessary precautions to prevent fuel tank contamination.
Can a gas meter be tampered with?
Energy theft encompasses a range of activities, including the manipulation of energy meters by individuals with the intention of reducing their energy bills. Such actions can result in property damage, injury, or even death. This illicit and perilous practice results in financial losses for energy consumers in Great Britain amounting to over £1. 4 billion annually. It is of the utmost importance to exercise caution when approached by individuals offering to reduce energy bills through meter changes.
Can someone tamper with your gas?
Energy theft is a costly and dangerous crime, with gas meters being tampered with increasing the risk of leaks and explosions. Reporting gas theft is crucial to prevent potential dangers. It is illegal and can be reported anonymously, either online or by phone. The report form requires the name and address of the suspected gas thief, along with details about the potential crime being committed. Criminals who attempt to steal gas are putting people’s lives at risk.
Can someone steal your natural gas?
Piedmont Natural Gas is firmly committed to the protection of its customers from the illicit diversion of natural gas, which is not only a criminal offence but also presents a significant safety risk.
How do I know if someone is using my gas?
Tampering with an energy meter can be difficult to identify, but it is often linked to energy theft. This involves deliberately interfering with a gas or electric meter to prevent proper or complete recording of energy usage. Energy theft can be carried out by individuals or organizations misrepresenting their supply or landlords profiting from tenants who pay “bills included” rent. Tampered gas meters are dangerous due to gas leaks, which can lead to health issues such as unconsciousness, respiratory problems, and memory loss.
Natural gas is highly flammable, and a simple light switch can trigger an explosion. Electric meter tampering can cause appliances to overheat, malfunction, and become “live”, causing electrocution and other serious injuries. Exposure to exposed wires or metal objects can also electrocute people. In conclusion, tampering with energy meters is a costly and dangerous issue that can result in significant financial losses for the public.
Can I lock my gas meter?
Gas meter barrel locks offer enhanced security compared to conventional locks, while gas meter nut locks surround the meter union nut to prevent tampering. Gas valve locks for wing-style service valves provide maximum protection against the elements. Gas valve lockout devices ensure a wing-style gas valve is locked in the closed position. Gas pipe locks/gas line plugs lock off open gas pipe ends with male or female threads.
Highfield offers gas meter lock removal tools for efficient removal of inoperative barrel locks. Highfield also produces various gas meter fittings for connecting gas meters with rigid natural gas piping systems on residential and commercial properties.
How do I know if my meter has been tampered with?
Meter tampering is a prevalent and perilous issue that costs consumers up to £1. 4 billion annually, amounting to approximately £50 for every household energy bill. Furthermore, it can result in the loss of innocent lives. It is of the utmost importance to be able to identify instances of energy theft and to report them in a timely manner. This is the only way to ensure the protection of oneself, one’s loved ones, and the wider community.
How to tell if someone is siphoning your gas?
A decrease in the fuel level of a vehicle may be indicative of fuel theft. Additional indications may include the presence of puddles beneath the vehicle, a gasoline-like odor in the vicinity of the automobile, and visible damage to the fuel cap, which may result in the vehicle failing to start or starting only when the vehicle is parked.
📹 Suspected gas pump scheme caught on camera could see customers paying for someone else’s gas
An ARCO gas station in Antelope, Sacramento County caught the suspect gas pump scheme suspects on camera swapping the …
I always do a “test” pump at the begining where I manually press the trigger and release about 3 times while looking at the price to make sure the pump actually works. You can hear and feel the pressure when there’s actually gas going into the tank. You gotta be the most unaware person to not notice you’re using a “empty” pump.
I see some flaws in this scam..I would hope people are observant enough to notice A)there’s no gas being pumped into your car which makes noise and you can feel the fuel flowing when you squeeze the trigger…. and/or B) I would think most people know how much gas their car holds so they notice 35 gallons isn’t going into their Honda Accord
As soon as you squeeze the trigger/handle at the end of the hose you can feel the gas rushing into your tank “OR NOT” it makes a sound also. If your meter starts moving B 4 you squeeze the trigger/handle, that’s another point. I don’t want to be mean here but if you fall for this scam you need to pay more “common sense” attention in your daily life.
Took me a minute to figure out. I can see where this could backfire in many ways. Just don’t steal from others in anyway. It is not only wrong but even if you are not caught your life will get way worse and miserable than it already is. If you are short on money there are a kazillion ways to get by until things get better.
Hi all. I’m a fuel station technician, and it’s unfortunate that we’ve been seeing this. In my opinion, the best way to verify that your nozzle is correct is to follow the hose to the casting outlet at the top of the pump. If The the hose crosses over a casting (even if it’s plugged, like on pumps without diesel) then that is not the correct nozzle. Stay safe everyone!
This also happens when people leave the pump unattended to go inside. I worked in the retail industry for 20 years and seeing this never got old. Some will walk up with a gas can to just get 5 gallons and walk away. Customers would come in and complain saying our gas pumps were not working properly and then I’d watch article of this happening.
1. You’d have to be pretty absent minded to fall for this 2. How long was the scammer planning on awkwardly waiting for a victim while he and his vehicle are being recorded by security footage? 3. The chance of getting caught is extremely high making it incredibly risky, and for what a single tank of gas that probably cost $30?
Being a guy that likes to squeeze in the last few pennies to an even dollar, I would quickly pick up that something was wrong. Also having driven extensively in Mexico I learned to always make sure the meter reads zero, and check the hose. The attendant always pumped the gas and you had to pay attention that they didn’t remove the nozzle and fill a small can and the resume filling your truck.
Man, get a load of these guys? If only they’d just be like the rest of us when we steal gas and suck it through a hose to create a vaccuum into a gas cannister. Better not swallow that stuff though. My cousin’s baby died like that. They were trying to teach him the family business. 3 years old. May his tiny soul rest in Fuelhalla.
I’ve had shady people offer to pump my gas at some stations, and I always decline but keep them in my sight at all times when I’m pumping. I once walked a short distance away to get a squeegee, and I saw one of these people stop my pump, took the nozzle out of my car and put it in their gas can. Long story short, they weren’t able to get away and I threatened to call the police if they didn’t dump the stolen gas into my tank. I kept my promise and they returned the gas, but someone else called the police.
Used to work at a gas station. 3 things I always do now. 1: NEVER FILL UP WHEN THERES A TANKER TRUCK FILLING THE MAIN TANK (kicks up rust and sediment that will damage your engine, if you see a tanker find a new gas station for that day) 2: never use a pump that someone else is using the other side of. Wait if you have too. 3: NEVER eat gas station sushi. 🤢😂
This has been going on for a long time. This happened to me in Ocean View, Va in 1988 where I came back to the pump (pay before you pump) and saw that a punk was pumping gas with my pump nozzle. I immediately slammed him against his own vehicle repeatedly and the clerk realized what was going on. He stopped the pump and called the police. The officer saw the grainy article which showed what happened prior to me having some street therapy. The way it was settled by the officer who advised the punk to pay for what he took without paying and the clerk made sure I was able to get my gas. The officer told me on the side he preferred doing it this way or else I was going to be arrested for the assault and battery.
Two tricks to see if you are using the correct nozzle plus the advice on what to do if you suspect you are being robbed: 1. Just place your nozzle in the gas tank and wait about a minute to see if the counter starts. Do not pull on the handle. 2. If the nozzle is ported into the tank, squeeze the handle to see if there is a lot of resistance. That should mean your are using the correct nozzel and gas is ready to flow out. If you squeeze the handle and there is little resistance, you are being robbed. Be advised: If you are aware that you are being robbed of gas, quickly press the latch where the nozzle is docked at the pump and cancel the opperation on the pad. That will stop the flow of gas all together. Jot down the suspect’s license plate and notify the attendant and authorities.
wait can someone explain this to me? In order for this to work, they both have to pump petrol correct?.. so they’re both pumping and paying for each other’s fuel?.. I guess that guy can drive away and the station will see that his pump number paid for it, but then wouldn’t they just get his plates by checkin the camera?
That happened to me several years ago. An older woman and her grandson did that, and pumped most of the gas that I paid for. All I could do is just look at them, while she “apologized” and offered me $3 for the $11 that was pumped. Although I was highly upset, I chose to leaver them alone, because I didn’t want to get shot over a tank of stolen gas.
I had this happen to me in Winters, I went inside station and paid for $40.00 gas and a soda. When I was walking out the car across the pumps left in a hurry and the nozzle was barely in holder. The person had pumped the gas into his car and left…the owner of the station would not give me a refund or the gas. I no longer use that station.
If this becomes a big enough problem, I could see a bit of fencing built on the sides of the gas pump. Basically, fill in the area between the pump and the support columns on each side with plexiglass panels. This would make it physically impossible to disassociate the pump handle from the correct meter.
This makes no sense….how would it even be possible? Like I get how they did it as far as switching the pumps but how does the other person not realize? The person stealing the gas would still have to pay a certain amount of gas for the other person to not notice?? Literally confused. If the schemer is low on money and/or doing this to save money (assuming that’s the motive) isn’t this pointless? Someone please tell me you’re just as confused on this. No fights please 😅
They’re really scamming the station and not the customer. If I hand you $40 for pump #6 and am parked at pump #6 pumping $40 dollars of gas into the car at pump #6 and then drive off, I don’t see how that’d come back on me. I understand how the scam works but I don’t see the customer being held accountable in a court of law. Course, where I’m from you can’t even start a pump without paying for it somehow first.
Wouldn’t the mark start pumping gas too? So essentially when u pay you’d still be paying for the same amount. Unless he doesn’t hit the button for it to start, either way the mark be able to feel and hear the gas flowing. I guess the the dude could start it and wait for them to walk away and then stop the gas on his end.
A few days ago, I stopped late at night at a station to pump gas and I noticed that the gas hoses were switched around at the pump I was using. I was the only one at the station and didn’t think much about it; except, that the last person to use the pump did it just to be annoying. perusal this, I know realize someone got ripped off.
This is why I prepay inside the store every time and not much at all. I don’t usually fill my gas tank either because of fuel syphoning I’ve never seen this is my area I’m glad to be aware now. However if it did happen to me they won’t be getting much at all anyways. Maybe a gallon or two (these days).
The “good” driver would realize as soon as he gets into his car and see the gas dial didn’t move up – that something is wrong!!!lolol There’s another scheme going on here in Boston, MA!! Foreign middle eastern men states he forgot his credit cards, cash is visiting the area and will offer you a “gold” chain as payment for gas. He along with his female accomplice would be driving a foreign car – so in your mind you would think – he must has money – since he driving a foreign!! The female accomplice is fake worried and begging you to help them since they are far from home. Don’t fall for it!! Spread the word. This happened in the South Bay mall in Dorchester, MA and in Brockton, MA that I know of so far!!!
An experience somewhat similar happened at restaurant to me. It was years ago when waiters sometimes bring customers’ credit cards to the cashier as the pay device is not portable. The family next to me had a massive bill, the man followed behind the busy waiter . Then went up to the cashier, calmly claimed to be my husband asking for my card to be returned. The cashier had no idea whoever sat on which tables as our tables are outdoors . So she gave my credit card away. The man walked away without paying with my credit card.
This is happening also in Las Vegas Nevada. Some people are stealing diesel. My store got $10,000 worth of diesel stolen from them. The person made three trips to my store in a work truck. They have extra tanks in the trucks. My store has only one cashier from 2:00 to 10:00. That’s me. I am on the register mostly, no way I could of have known that this was happening. I found out the next day. No I can’t say what store I’m at. But this is happening all over Vegas with different gas stations. Not just one company is being targeted, they all are all targeted.
I think this may have happened to me. I paid $40 for gas, and when I went to pump it, I had to sit because I have a hernia pressing on my spine. Anyway, I didn’t check that the hose was getting gas going through it, but also, it stopped at $20. They refunded me the other $20, and I just went to leave. The gas gauge in my car did not move. At that point, gas wasn’t $4 a gallon. So, it should’ve at least gotten to the halfway point. The people inside said my gauge may be broken and to drive around. Basically, I was out 20 bucks because they wouldn’t refund my money. I went to a different place to get the other $20 in gas and, what do ya know? The gauge magically started working again. Even after proving the gauge was not broken, there was always a reason not to refund my money. I’ll never go there again.
Am I the only one, that looks up, down and around at the pump because my gas thingy is always twisted or I never pull up far enough and go through the struggle of pulling it as far as it can reach?! Taking trash out the car, looking at the car on the other side because I just need to see who’s over there😩😂 This one I would notice but real story, I did have my car stolen for leaving my keys in. I parked right at the front door of the gas station. Was stolen by a group that saw me get out and they split up in the store and watched and blocked my walkway(seen all this on the camera)! Don’t leave your car running. Kudos to you if this is not you but there’s plenty that do!
Hey guys Jesus loves you He wants you to come as you are He died for your sins past,present,and future. He was buried then rose again on the third day so you can be saved,so that you can have the free gift of Salvation.If you want God in your life just seek Him truly put your faith in Him and accept Him as your Lord and savior.It is by God’s grace you can be saved❤️‼️💝🙌🏾k
Had a hard time figuring out how this scam works because it didn’t (still doesnt) make a ton of sense to me. Im thinking the scammer gets a pre-paid debit card, then just pumps the other guys gas incredibly slow (I’ve been to a gas station or 2 that took like 10 minutes to fill my truck) while the victim pumps his quicker.
Unfortunately the story is lacking a little bit but I think what is truly happening is the guy is filling up his full size truck while the other guy that paid was there to fill up his Prius so the guy with the truck probably clicks off at the same time as the Prius around 10 gallons or something, guy in the Prius hangs up pump, guy in the truck slowly puts a little more gas in every 10 seconds to keep pump active, then once Prius guy leaves fills his whole truck up, probably plus an auxiliary tank in the bed under a tonneau cover
This is funny. One time we stopped a gas station near the border just for the guy to have the wrong gas pump be paid for. We didnt know why our pump was malfunctioning when we put the nozel in it started pouring thinking our card did go through. Our total was ~$80. Just a minutue later a guy starts to call out over the confusion. We were kind to pay him back and we continued our journey 🤣