Thieves Snatch Less Obvious Items; Leaky Gas Tanks Point to Theft
Thieves in the Washington, D.C., area aren’t limiting their take to laptops and iPhones.
They are also stealing necessity items, such as diapers, laundry detergent and frozen foods, the Washington Post reports. Items with copper—including downspouts, gutters, HVAC units and catalytic converters—are also popular.
In Takoma Park, Md., some car owners are lucky that there were no fires after thieves drilled holes into their gas tanks to steal the fuel, the story says. The theft victims discovered the problem when they stopped to fill their tanks, and gas began to pool at their feet. Others figured out something was amiss when they noticed a strong odor of gas.
Some thieves are stealing car keys from unlocked lockers at fitness clubs, and then locating the car by roaming the streets while clicking the entry button.
Takoma Park police crime analyst Andrew Gucciardo told the Post the gas tank drillings are among the “necessity thefts” that are more prevalent in a bad economy.
