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Cameras aimed at deterring gas thefts

Friday, March 10, 2000

By Bradley Flory

Smile the next time you pump gas at the Save Time Convenience Store at 3101 Jefferson Rd. You're on camera.

Surveillance cameras were recently installed to combat a growing problem for service stations everywhere - losses caused by thieves who drive away without paying.

"We put cameras on the outside. We put cameras in the windows. And we record 24 hours a day," said Ann Swain, division manager for Save Time.

Service station industry leaders say losses from thefts, commonly called drive-aways, will approach $10 million statewide this year.

Higher gasoline prices are said to compound the problem.

As prices rise, more people steal gas and the average loss is naturally higher.

"There are times when we get two or three (thefts) a night," said Sherry Lock, assistant manager at the Citgo station at 918 N. Wisner.

Michigan lawmakers are taking notice. On Wednesday, the House voted 107-0 to pass a bill that would double the maximum penalty for gas theft. "It's always existed and it's a bigger problem than most people realize," Swain said. "Where it used to be a $5 drive-off, now it's $15 or $20. Where it used to be mostly younger kids, now it goes across all ages."

Tougher penalties are one weapon that the Michigan Petroleum Association wants to help battle theft. The bill that passed the House now goes to the Senate.

If the legislation passes into law, first-time offenders will lose their driver's license for six months instead of the current 90-day penalty. Repeat offenders would lose their license for a year.

"It's a vicious circle," said state Rep. Sandy Caul, R-Mount Pleasant, who authored the legislation. "Those who don't pay for gasoline create higher costs for gas stations, which then must pass that cost along to consumers."

Cameras at Save Time's Jefferson Road store are an experiment that may be repeated at other locations if they prove successful.

Columbia Township police are very cooperative about tracking down offenders and Save Time will prosecute, she said.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report

http://aa.mlive.com/news/index.ssf?/news/stories/20000310jgasthe917.frm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), March 10, 2000