Stealing My Gas!!!

[captharv]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

My dad drove a truck which hauled fuel oil, but the truck was gasoline powered. Someone started siphoning the gas out of the trucks tank. So, my dad got a sewing needle and put it into the vent hole on the cap, then filed around the base of the needle. Next day, the needle was broken off, and there were no more thefts after that. Simple but effective.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

Too bad a guy couldn't get some of that stuff, that they used in the Cash for Clunkers program, and add it in the portable gas can !!

 

[werthert]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

Agree with all to put something in it to utterly destroy their engines.

You got no point being on the water if you can't spring $20 for gas.

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

I like the word 'detonate' in the bleach concoction
I would definitely do that.....Even if you do get a camera still sabatoge their engine. Serves 'em right.
Good Luck

 

[cribber]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

I'm with the others to stick a second bait tank out there with gas and moth crystals (paradichlorobenzene) mixed in the fuel. This turns into hydrochloric acid under combustion and eats the engine from within.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

I fully agree with ruining the thief's engine and all but I'd want to catch them myself. Chances are once they find out you set them up with some bad gas they'll return the favor in some sort of vandalism and just move on to the next boat for free gas.
A thief needs to be caught and dealt with. How you deal with them is up to you but I have to say that the way I'd handle it would no doubt cure them of stealing for life.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

Contrary to popular belief sugar and fuel don't mix so the most harm you will do is block their fuel filter.

This is correct. http://www.snopes.com/autos/grace/sugar.asp

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

I would think that the sugar would have the most effect if added to the engine oil of a car. It wouldn't likely do much other than contaminate the fuel filter and tank on a boat.

The only sure shot way to screw with a fuel tank usually is to drop several pieces of plastic wrap or rubber balloons into the tank, which in turn get sucked up around the fuel intake screen blocking all or most of the fuel flow, and even at that it's pot luck when it will occur.

Water would be the best bet, at tank of half water, half fuel will no doubt still smell like gas and be the most noticeably right away in the thief's boat or car.
But seriously, wouldn't you rather just catch the low life and wring his neck?

 

[204Angler]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

Yeah...you could catch them in the act and wring their necks and beat them a little...however; what would that do to really punish them? I think that in addition to this a catastrophic engine failure would be justice. The problem with boaters/fisherman---you have a mix of people. You either have the people that take great pride in the boat they have, ALWAYS maintain a current state fishing license, fishing gear stays organized mos of the time and nothing makes them happier than the ability to get on the water, pull a wake board or bring in that 12lbs largey....or just put around. Then you have the people that fish off the docks at boat ramps, syphon gas, don't care about having a license...break into trucks at the boat ramp and steal everything. The people that don't care about anyone else but themselves. The only permanent fix for these people is God or to get shot

 

[kregars]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

Too bad a guy couldn't get some of that stuff, that they used in the Cash for Clunkers program, and add it in the portable gas can !!

That would be Liquid Glass, and it's available at AutoZone, PepBoys and I've seen it at some of the Super Targets (don't shop at WalMart but they may also carry it).

Heat from the engine causes it to gel and ultimately harden. Was used mostly in the oil to create sludge as the engines heated up and ultimately detonated but some places that didn't know better just put in a HUGE amount in the gas tanks and the end result after running the engine for some time had roughly the same effect. The idea of using it in the oil was that it would starve the engine of oil allowing for friction to rapidly develop and then seize the cylinders to their walls and in most cases allowing the bearings to seize either just before or just as the cylinders made their last T/BDC*BANG*

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

I think the catch them would be better than the sabatoge. Like was said, I would guess they might try to sabatoge back if they knew which boat the sabatoged fuel came from.

I like the hunting camera idea. Maybe your cops friend has other ideas as well...

 

[shaunlaf]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

I hear your points on the risk of sabotage... and how it can just come back to me and make things worse...

maybe I'm going about this the wrong way... maybe I should do the camera thing and find out who they are... then ruin their engine while it's docked...

hmmmm but that's a step beyond my comfort zone... if they take my 'gas' and their engine seizes, I can live with that... something about seeking them out undercover and delivering my retaliation seems a bit more... illegal... as I'm sure it is...

The needle idea sound interesting, but I'd have to put it on the gas line clip that connects the engine, as they are siphoning it, they're just pumping the primer to get the gas into their tank...

I thought about the cash for clunkers thing too... pretty cool that it can be bought locally....

there's got to be a creative way to pay them back, while still catching them, ruining their engine and getting them caught... all anonymously...

or, I just get a photo, confront them face to face and live with the hope that Karma comes back around to them...

and if it doesn't just punch them in the face years later if I'm not over it by then...

 

[superpop]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

I would put a big sign next to my fuel line or tank, somewhere that they can see it when they approach your boat that says "The gas in this boat may or may not wreck your motor, you feel lucky punk" That way they know you are on to them and they may think twice before stealing from you.

 

[joed]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

Mythbusters did a show about stuff in the gas
Sugar was busted - nothing happend
Bleach was plausible - also rusted the tank
Drain cleaner in fuel - busted

 

[shaunlaf]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

hmmm that reminds me....

I used to live in a community setting that shared a fridge... often peoples food would be stolen... some other person would see it and just eat it.. it sucked...

so I started writing 'medicated' on my items... and didn't tell anyone... that way no one touched it...

So maybe I put some type of label or sign that says "Treated" or something like that.. to deter them....

that still doesn't help me catch them, but I could still try the camera thing to catch them.. then decide from there what to do...

like marlboro180 said... I'm wondering if it's someone I know, or at least I'll recognize even if I don't know them.. then I can expose them to the community and ruin their reputation that way... or threaten too if they don't fill my entire gas tank with good gas (it's a 60 tank - whoever took it only got the last 5 gallons I had in there)

it all depends on who the culprit turns out to be...

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

Karo syrup

Beer....although it's a tremendous waste of beer

The camera will only get stolen

 

[Bass Tracker TX17]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

Ok i'll go out on a limb and make one suggestion.

FWIW.

Since lots of people have been affected by this here is a fairly easy solution.

Like a crime watch neighborhood. Have one person per night take a shift and just watch. You have like a dozen people that could split that. You see them motoring over just make a call. Get the boat number and such. It worked for a couple of situations around my area.

Bring a lunch and just relax.....

OR

Put up signs stating area under surveillance to start

 

[kregars]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

Actually, the camera is a fantastic idea. One that has both day and night capability would be great and they are extremely small. Have it store the pictures remotely (to a PC) so if it does get stolen, it's not a huge loss as you still have the pictures of the culprit....however, earlier in the thread, I seem to recall that your at the opposite end of the island from the boat/berth so you'd need to have some way if you went this route to place a storage device that you could access.

The hunting cameras (digital video) would be best. They aren't that big, have nighttime recording capabilities and can easily be hidden...some are even capable of remote placement of the lens via a flexible neck (so the only thing that is seen or in this case camouflaged is the lens housing, neck)...though these models are more expensive, since it's already assumed that the fuel is being siphoned it may be possible that the local PD has access to one that they would be able to install to assist in an investigation. I mention the investigation as what they are doing is potentially placing your and the other boaters life at risk of being caught out in the open waters and have something occur (storm, etc placing lives at risk).

I'd really if I was you involve the PD to assist as anything that you do that places the thief's life or property at risk could come back to you in a litigation route, especially if the word that you 'poisoned' the gas with the intention of causing destruction. I know, sounds bad, but with today's sue to recoup mentality it's something that you seriously need to consider.

 

[shaunlaf]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

good call kregars,

I never thought to necessarily include the po-po... just telling them afterwards.. but getting them involved is a great idea... I'm going to talk to my buddy and see if the PPD has any cameras and if they'd be int. in being a part of this...

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

If you use any of the methode that cause property damage or the needle trick that can cause bodily damage - keep your mouth shut. Judges take a dim view of vigilatism and you may end up paying dearly for the damages you cause to someone else.

And what happens if the wrong person gets the bad gas? If your friends kid steals the gas and puts it in his Dad's (your friend's) boat or truck, then there are going to be other issues. Especially when you start crowing about how you spiked the gas to mess with someone.

I don't mean to be a buzzkill just wanted to remind people not to get too carried away with taking the law into your own hands.