Craig P.
Southern California
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Joined: 09/20/2002
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A sign of the times, folks....the theft of fuel from parked vehicles is on the rise. I suppose a locking fuel cap is the first line of defense, but are they infallible? I don't know. I remember during the fuel crisis in the 70's, auto parts stores began selling this spiral spring looking device that prevented someone from siphoning fuel from your tank. I understand now, that thieves are even drilling holes in fuel tanks and gathering what they can in buckets.
I did a google search and came across this anti-siphon device. Losing a few gallons from my car would upset me, but losing a large amount of diesel fuel from my MH would really tick me off, especially if some idiot drilled a hole in my tank. I keep my MH stored at home, so I feel a little better about it, but what about some of you folks that are forced to use storage yards? Are you safeguarding your fuel? If so, by what means?
Craig
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alpenliter
Olympia WA
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Craig, if you put a locking gas cap on, they will either "tap" your gas tank or cut your filler pipe and take it out through there. I'm fortunate in that my TV is parked next to my fiver and I make it look like someone is living in it with lights on and a radio on. So far so good. I think if they want it bad enough they will get it. IMHO, forgoe the locking gas cap and save yourself expensive vandalism repairs.
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rray32539
Florida's Emerald Coast
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Locking gas cap = useless.
12 gauge shotgun in the house and a pit bull chained to the rig at night = priceless.
Richard L. Ray KI4PEQ
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mainetom
Maine, near Augusta
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How about a dummy fuel filler that leads to the black tank? -- let them siphon on that for a while! Or, maybe even better, it could lead to a tank full of something that appears to be fuel but will fry their motor when they use it.
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cooper841
Maryland
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rray32539 wrote:Locking gas cap = useless.
12 gauge shotgun in the house and a pit bull chained to the rig at night = priceless.
I fell the same as you.But look out for the anti gun crew.
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henchman
Cardinal, Ontario
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I don't even lock my motorhome. It's sitting in the driveway right now, I think the keys are even in the ignition. I have not heard about any fuel thefts around here (or at all for that matter). Live in a small town near on the border, stuff like that does not usually happen around here. Bigger cities maybe (Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal).
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jurzbill
Florida and this great country
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locking gas caps..
they were being used back in the 70's when we had a gas shortage.
useless...I had responded to many gas theft calls. If it was locked they would just put a hole in your gas tank and drain it.
that is what they are doing now, a lot faster than trying to go thru the fuel filler.
also, the shotgun solution, dont do it. for a tank of gas you will be spending many years in jail if you shot a gas thief.
If you think a tank of gas is worth years in jail, go for it.
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swebber
Brunswick , MD
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Put a locking cap on my truck, DW's car has the door to gas cap that has to be unlocked from inside car.
Luckily I have three neighbors who are home all day and they WILL (and have) call the police for anything suspicious.
* This post was
edited 06/06/08 06:50am by an administrator/moderator *
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Harvard
51.37N 114.42W
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The way we handle the bears here at home is to use an electric fencer.....kabooooom! Just kidding! 
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03FatBoy
Topeka, Ks.
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Joined: 12/28/2003
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jurzbill wrote:locking gas caps..
they were being used back in the 70's when we had a gas shortage.
useless...I had responded to many gas theft calls. If it was locked they would just put a hole in your gas tank and drain it.
that is what they are doing now, a lot faster than trying to go thru the fuel filler.
also, the shotgun solution, dont do it. for a tank of gas you will be spending many years in jail if you shot a gas thief.
If you think a tank of gas is worth years in jail, go for it.
Glock with a nice laser sight! That red dot hits their chest and people start to mess their pants. You only squeeze the trigger it necessary! We need to go back to the old west days? Hang 'em High!
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