Phoenix animal shelter halts rescue trip after vandals drill holes in van to steal gas
A Phoenix animal rescue shelter repaired a van for the second time in two weeks after it had gas stolen from its tank Thursday morning, Phoenix police said.
Personnel from HALO Animal Rescue, a local shelter located near 32nd Street and Bell Road, were just heading out to Barb's Dog Rescue, in Sonora, Mexico, to pick up dogs and bring them back before noticing the damage, according to the shelter.
"(Staff) stopped at the gas station to fill up the van and fuel began to leak out the bottom of the van," Heather Allen, CEO of HALO Animal Rescue, said to The Arizona Republic.
The crew took the van to a local repair shop where they found three holes drilled into the gas tank, Allen said.
According to Allen, the gas theft left a $2,500 bill to cover the damages.
This comes weeks after the shelter also found that someone had disconnected the hose to the gas tank in the van in order to siphon gasoline, Allen said.
The incident has spurred interest in other possible incidents of gas theft. These crimes fall into the same category as other vehicular burglaries, making them difficult to track in particular, according to police.
The shelter suspects rising gas prices to lead some to find alternative ways to fuel their vehicles.
However, multiple police departments in the Valley have not reported any noticeable rise in these cases. Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Glendale police departments have not seen an increase in these types of incidents.
"We have not seen a dramatic rise in gas thefts. I know with gas prices spiking this has become a hot button issue but it isn’t something that has been tracked from year to year as a special category," said Richard Encinas of the Mesa Police Department.
AAA recommends three safety tips to keep your gas tank and vehicle safe:
Park inside a garage at home or indoors when possible.
When in public, park in well-lit areas where people will be able to see your vehicle.
If parked inside a parking garage, look for spaces near elevators or near exits as those are the highest areas of foot traffic.
If you suspect your car's gas has been stolen, check for these signs.
The smell of gasoline around your vehicle
A puddle underneath your vehicle
Trouble starting your car or the fuel gauge shows less than when you left in it
Engine light doesn't turn on
If you suspect your vehicle's gas has been stolen, AAA advises to report the incident to the police immediately and contact your insurance provider as fuel tank repairs can cost up to $1,000.
Reach breaking news reporter Adam Terro at adam.terro@arizonarepublic.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix animal shelter halts rescue trip after vandals steal gas
