Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Rising Fuel Prices Lead to Concerns of Gas Theft

As fuel prices rise, gas theft has started to increase. There have been reports of thieves drilling into vehicle fuel tanks to steal the gasoline.

March 18, 2022
Rising Fuel Prices Lead to Concerns of Gas Theft

Fuel theft, by methods such as drilling holes to drain all the fuel out of a vehicle, is becoming a bigger issue for fleets across the country, especially as gas prices increase.

Photo by Chris Brown

2 min to read


As the fuel prices continue to increase, there’s more of a concern for gas theft.

Stacy Houston, owner of a Las Vegas biohazard cleanup company, recently experienced fuel theft with five of her fleet trucks. When she arrived at the office, she discovered that someone opened the gas doors of five trucks and drilled holes into the fuel tanks to drain all the fuel out of them, according to a report by NewsNation.

Ad Loading...

“One of them is a 14-foot box truck that’s like $200 worth of gas,” Houston told NewsNation. “I understand people are hurting, but we are all in the same position. We are all paying the same for gas.”

In Atlanta, police arrested a man accused of damaging vehicles by puncturing gas tanks to steal gasoline.

During these crimes, the suspect appeared to use a tool to drill a hole into the gas tanks of the vehicles, resulting in hundreds or thousands of dollars of extra costs for gas tank repairs, according to a press release by the Atlanta Police Department. The suspect was charged with multiple counts of entering these vehicles and criminal damage to property.

Emery Shen, a gas station service technician, said he's had calls about thefts at several gas stations, according to a report by ABC7 Chicago. "There's been reports of people siphoning gas directly out of the tanks,” he told ABC7. “Putting a hose down into gas tank and sucking out. We are also hearing reports of people drilling in the gas tanks taking gas out of cars directly."

If possible, law enforcement officials urge people to park their vehicles in a garage or a well-lit area to avoid fuel theft, according to the NewsNation report.

More Rental Operations

an exotic car wrapped in an insurance policy
Rental Operations•October 1, 2026

The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals

Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.

Read More →
globe of world and drivers license from UK
Rental Operations•September 28, 2026

The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?

For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.

Read More →
Scenes from Car Rental Shows past
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 23, 2026

ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers

The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
hand holding phone and Turo logo
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 21, 2026

Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service

Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.

Read More →
plane, palm trees, car rental sign
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•September 15, 2026

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap

A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.

Read More →
Team members of U-Save's new franchise
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 15, 2026

U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana

The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A traveler searches for rental cars with an AI bot
Rental Operations•September 14, 2026

When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?

As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)

Read More →
map of europe and summer car rental rates
Rental Operations•September 11, 2026

European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country

Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.

Read More →
thumbnail of Chris Brown and Mike DeLorenzo with title Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•September 8, 2026

Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?

As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Woman receiving car rental rates on computer from AI agent
Rental Operations•September 1, 2026

Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental

Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)

Read More →
Ad Loading...