Novel way to get gas is also illegal

DENVER - Barbara Ellis knew something was wrong when she smelled gasoline. She didn't fully realize the extent of the problem until she saw gas pouring out of a small hole in her gas tank.

"Gas was going everywhere," she said.

That's when her neighbor saw someone running from the scene with a metal tub filled with gas, and that's when it hit her: she'd been the victim of a crime.

"I think it's crazy. I can't believe it," she said.

In the last month, Denver Police have investigated seven other very similar stories coming out of Denver's Berkeley and West Highland neighborhoods.

Police believe the thief or thieves are drilling small holes into gas tanks and siphoning out the gasoline.

"It is a very concentrated area where this is happening," said Denver Police Det. John White. "This is clearly not the way it's been done in the past by taking a hose and putting it in a gas tank."

The latest theft happened on Sunday night. Police say in one of the incidents, the thief or thieves took off in a grey or bluish four-door K-car.

The majority of the incidents have happened at night. All of the cars are high up off the ground (such as SUVs). White figures that gives the crooks more room to maneuver underneath the car or truck.

He recommends people in these two neighborhoods consider putting cars inside garages if that's an option. He also urges people to keep a close eye on any suspicious behavior around cars. He's not sure if this is one group of thieves or multiple groups.

Ellis says it cost $500 to repair the damage to her car.

The reason it is so expensive is because mechanics have to take the entire tank out, clean it, fix the hole, and then put it back under the car.

She says she wonders why the thief or thieves targeted her and her neighborhood.

"Well I think gas prices are high but I think you should probably pay for your own gas and not steal it from me," she said.