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9:43 p.m. • 2-10-12

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More people are pumping without paying


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As prices at the pump rise, more people are driving off without paying for gas.

In Raleigh, 58 reports of gas drive-offs were reported this year. In response, a police spokesperson said many gas stations are requiring customers to pay before pumping, but not every station has that technology.

"It (gas) is too high. It's ridiculous,” motorist Ron Miles said.

According to AAA, the average price of gas in Raleigh is $3.99. Last year, at this time, it was $2.95.

“My parents live in Virginia and I used to visit them at least once a month and now it's every six weeks and I try to coax them to come down her to try and save some money," motorist Stephanie Jackson said.

Cary police say a gas drive-off was reported at a Shell Gas station on Chapel Hill Road and at a Citgo station on Harrison Avenue.

After a gas station on Maynard Road was hit several times by people driving off without paying, it started making motorists pay before pumping. A gas station clerk said the company was losing nearly $500 a day from gas drive-offs.

“Not surprised when it hits you – $50, $60 (or) $70 to fill a tank,” motorist Audun Runde said of the spike in drive-offs.

A U-Haul facility on Chatham Street recently discovered empty tanks on trucks that had a full-tank the night before. The owner reported about $150 worth of gas siphoned.

"I can believe it. If you can't pay for it, you got to get it somehow,” motorist Stephanie Jackson said.

"It's leaving people in a bad situation, but that's still not justification for doing that (driving-off)," Miles said.

The U.S. Energy Department said last week that gas prices would likely stay at about $4 per gallon through much of next year.

RELATED TOPICS: Raleigh, Cary, Chatham County

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they didnt post my first half, as for the debt, drug test anyone who is getting government assistance. if they dont pass no assistance. believe me if they wanted to get outta debt, there are ways!

without passing the responsibility to the taxpayers for getting us outta this mess. as americans we have responsibilities, thats FINE, but i'm just saying that if our leaders actually TRYED, and WANTED to get outta debt, it seems like they would think of ways to do it that were productive! i just dont see where our government are actually working at this whole debt problem, but i do see where our government isnt using their common sense and education. but aaannnnyway! go pay your gas prices with a big smile!

(Worland...) Well we dont live in Europe do we... So if you prefer to pay $9.50 a gallon go there.. but here in America we would like to see our gas prices come down because it is CRAZY!!!

HJRVS, I was mentioning the BMW as an option compared to todays gas guzzlers. If they use a modern 250CC it most likely would get even better MPG. A single person doesn't need a large rig. All of the stats were from the original version.

"I am confused?? In 2006 we were told that the Democrats could fix gas prices if they got power back. Gas has actually doubled! So what happened?" HJRVS

lol...I smell a troll. I have to say that anyone who thinks that a single digit advantage in Congress is "in Power" doesn't know much about how the Legislative Branch works.

(c:

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