Local truck driver Brenda Banks discovered that someone has found a way to beat rising gas prices: Take her gas for free.
The Gary woman discovered someone had siphoned about 180 gallons of gas from the semitrailer she drives sometime over the weekend.
Local police say they have not heard any similar recent reports but it’s a common occurrence when gas prices start to go up, and they wouldn’t be surprised to hear of more reports in the near future.
Banks had parked her tractor-trailer at Steel City Truck and Auto Plaza on Grant Street in Gary on March 16. She left the rig there until Monday, when she hit the road again, only to discover her gas gauge was past the red line marking empty.
“I never let it get that far, even when I’m driving,” she said.
Banks said she talked with security at Steel City and was told a few other drivers had reported similar incidents in the past month. No one at the local Steel City would comment on the matter.
Banks said this has happened to her once before when she was on vacation, and she suspects other drivers who own their semitrailers are responsible. A driver who works for a company, as Banks does, usually doesn’t have to pay for gas because the company does. An owner/driver, on the other hand, does pay.
Porter County Cpl. Larry LaFlower said that probably was the case.
“A person in a car doesn’t need diesel,” he said.
LaFlower added he has not heard any recent reports of people siphoning gas from tractor-trailers but it has happened at a truck stop on U.S. 30.
“It seems (to happen) whenever prices go up and when the economy is bad,” he said.
Portage Sgt. Keith Hughes said truckers can take steps to protect themselves, such as parking in a visible spot. Most of the truckers who stop in Portage, he said, park in motel lots. In their case, he suggested parking in front by the lobby entrance. He also suggested drivers only use lots with video cameras. Banks said while the lot she used had security patrols, there were no cameras.