Tips on preventing fuel theft

Hello ive been waking up in morning latly and finding i have no fuel in my truck period. I woke up this morning and my truck which had about 50 gallons rougly left when i parked was completly empty and wouldnt turn over. I was just wondering what I can do to prevent fuel theft. I am going to snag a couple of locking fuel caps from a peterbilt dealer tomorrow. My truck has siphon guards that are apart of the tank permantly.

 

How did they get past the siphon gaurds? Are they pulling the drain plug on the bottom of the tanks? Maybe some battery powered LED motion lights would be a deterent? One of our drivers got one for the back of his sleeper, he parks in a dark lot walking distance from his house. So when he gets close, it turns on, then he shuts it off after he starts it up and turns on the load lights. I think he paid about 35 bucks and Walmart and stuck it on with double sided tape.

If they are pulling the drain plugs, make sure that you have allen plugs and fill the heads with body filler so you can't get an allen key in there. Body filler works good because you can chisel it out and remove them if you have to, but not quietly to steal fuel.

 

How many times has this happened to you? I'd be pretty pissed.

I like GrapeApe's suggestion, but I heard sometimes they will even drill a hole.

Have any drivers caught the thief in the act? I would think a longterm hospital stay would be in order.

 

I caught one once. he had a real bad headache when I was done with him!

 

Even with anti-siphon guards fuel can be stolen the same way fuel is put in. I suggest you get lock caps and stop parking there.

 

No holes In the tanks lines where tampered with though. Getting that fixed now. Tanks where dry. God if they wanted fuel why not just take it out of the reefer tank in my trailer. Thing was full. The drain plugs where secure. Only thing i csn think of is an anti siphon device in each tank with locking fuel caps. I think i will invest in a double barrel shotgun at some point. This has happened to me 4 times the last month 1 in tx, once in washington, once more in indianpolis and last night in Massachusetts. Thrird time in indiana i knocked the dimwit out cold with my fire extinguisher.

 

http://dashcamtalk.com/powerucc-panoramaii/

I have 2 dash cams, this one is very good in low light without IR, and one cheaper but with infra red led, both with motion sensors; can record 36 hours day and night with 32GB card; when I leave truck parked I have the cams recording; can run few days on 3x truck batteries;

 

A bear trap over the cap.

 

Man, you've had some luck! But I'm happy to hear some justice was done. So what did you do after you knocked him out? Leave him? Call the cops?

As far as the shotgun...I remember from my concealed carry class, the exact words you say when the cops arrive are at least as important as the situation that led to the shooting. "I just wanted him to stop, but he came at me. I thought he had a gun. I was scared for my life." etc

 

Man, more than once you've had fuel stolen? Have you considered buying a lottery ticket? I mean that;s as close to hitting the jackpot as I can think... The only thing with fuel tank locks is going to be a pain in the ### in the winter... I would be worried about them being frozen... Are you sure there isn't something more going on as far a leak in your fuel line... In two 100-120 gallon fuels tanks I couldnt really see a thief stealing the fueling with so little in the tanks... Kind of bizzare....