It is a relatively new crime but a Union City gas station is finding out about it the hard way. In the past two months, thieves have stolen gas from the Mobil gas station on Flat Shoals Road four times.
The convenience store has surveillance video showing how the suspects broke into gas pumps and disconnected the meters inside. The video shows one of the suspects using a tool to pry open a door on the pump. Once inside he cuts wires to the meter that logs the purchase. Then with a swipe of a credit card, he can pump unlimited gas for free.
In the latest incident on May 15, 11 cars pulled up to the pump and filled up for free. Over 180 gallons of gas were stolen. The same thing happened on three other occasions in March and April.
Surveillance video inside the store also shows three suspects involved in the theft. It shows a female distracting the clerk and acting as a lookout while the gas pump is broken into outside.
"You know when the other guys are taking the gas she's looking whether I'm talking to the cops or calling the cops so that she can alert them," said store manager Moses Daniel.
More than 750 gallons of gas were stolen in the four incidents. That doesn't include the cost to fix the damage that was done to the pumps.
Union City Police are investigating the four thefts. They're asking anyone who has information about the thefts to call Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477).
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