As gas prices continue to climb, several rental companies in California said thieves are siphoning gas or cutting fuel lines of their larger vehicles and U-Haul-style moving trucks, according to The Coast News.

Some rental agencies, such as Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Carlsbad, Calif., are no longer filling tanks on SUVs and vans to counter the recent fuel thefts at his branch.

Although the Encinitas, Calif. Sheriff’s substation and the Carlsbad Police Department said they haven’t seen a significant increase in gas thefts in their respective cities, this could be attributed to the fact that some business owners aren’t filing an official report out of concern for an increase to their insurance premiums, as well as the belief from the victims that making a report would do little to curb the problem.

But the problem persists:

--Pacific Postal Center in Encinitas which rents Budget trucks, has had 18 to 33 gallons of gas stolen once a week to every 10 days by thieves who are cutting the fuel lines on their moving trucks.

--Budget Car and Truck Rental of Encinitas has seen gas thefts increase 100 percent over the last two months.

--A Plus Truck and Car Rental in Leucadia, Calif. said thieves have stolen more than $1,000 in gas from his moving trucks since gas prices have increased over the last couple of months.

Because the moving trucks have larger gas tanks, Lawson and the other victims have said they’ve taken proactive security steps to protect their fuel, according to The Coast News.