Cracking down on gas pump drive offs

High gasoline prices may tempt some drivers to pull away from the pump without paying. <br><br>Gas retailers tell the News on 6 they are fed up with losing money to gas theft. News on 6 reporter Heather

Saturday, May 1st 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

High gasoline prices may tempt some drivers to pull away from the pump without paying.

Gas retailers tell the News on 6 they are fed up with losing money to gas theft. News on 6 reporter Heather Lewin says it is a growing problem and authorities are taking action.

This type of crime has sparked the creation of an entire squad at the Tulsa County Sheriffâ€™s Office, dedicated to stop people from stealing gas. Now when a driver fills up with no intention of paying, the clerk inside could be an undercover officer. And sometimes the sting operation turns up some pretty surprising results.

Tulsa County Sheriffâ€™s Office Captain Tim Albin: "It's a major, major problem, depending on who you talk to; a couple of the retailers have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars." The sting works like this. Inside the station, an undercover officer keeps watch. Just blocks away, sheriffâ€™s deputies are standing by. If you fill up without paying, they're ready to pounce.

And they never know who they'll get. Just days ago, deputies say stealing gas was the offense that landed an accused murderer behind bars. "We got him out of the car, we knew Fellows was a known gang member subsequently putting it all together they had some crack cocaine and the vehicle was stolen." 19-year old Robert Fellows now faces charges in a double homicide.

Though that's the most notable, authorities say they make arrests almost every time. Organizers say many gas thieves are repeat offenders, wanted on other charges that ultimately pay a lot bigger price than a few dollars at the pump. "There's a long term law enforcement saying, we don't catch em cause they're smart."

Albin says the loss is passed on to the public in higher gas prices. Several retailers have gone to pre-pay only, another inconvenience for the consumer brought on by criminals.