There’s gold in them, there gas tanks. At least that’s the way a gasoline thief armed with a drill and bucket must see it.

The gasoline thief was caught on surveillance video in Allentown after a resident there reported that her car gasoline tank had been drilled and partially drained, as 6ABC in Philly reports:

The woman in Allentown did not want to be identified, but she tells 6ABC both she and her neighbor were victims of a recent gasoline theft. The thief was later spotted on home surveillance video of the incident, but remains at large as of last report

The woman adds that she drove her car not knowing there was a hole in the gas tank that was leaking gas. She now tells 6ABC she’s lucky she wasn’t killed or injured in some type of gasoline fire or explosion. (Additional details on the drilling thefts and what to do, plus a suspect photo, are below)

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With gasoline prices skyrocketing, Mike Gibbons of Gibbon’s Automotive in Media, Delaware County, tells 6ABC that gasoline thieves are now drilling right into vehicle gas tanks. This, because newer vehicles have an anti-rollover valve that prevents someone from siphoning the tank the old fashioned way.

But the drilling can cause about $1,000 in damage, Gibbons said.

6ABC quotes AAA as warning motorists to check for the smell of gasoline when approaching their vehicles and to look for a puddle on the ground underneath the gas tank.

Also, check the fuel gauge. “If it is much lower, that is also a sign that perhaps someone drilled into your tank to steal your gas,” AAA spokesperson Jana Tidwell told 6ABC.

As for the damages done by the drilling, that may or may not be covered by your car insurance vandalism policy, according to AAA.

Home security video captured the alleged thief walking around an Allentown woman's car with a drill and a five-gallon bucket https://t.co/ruMzoLXkbV

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