It's a shame that prices have driven people to this point.  I feel just as badly for the people who found the need to do this as the people it happened to.  If their children are cold, I find it hard to think badly of them, even though it is theft.

This is an unfortunate situation, but not terribly surprising. The cost of home heating oil has risen to levels that makes it qualify as "Black Gold."

That's a shame people have to lock up their source of heat.

Brings me back to a time when folks were siphoning gas from cars durning the 1970's because of a gas shortage.  Soon after, cars were made with locking gas caps.

Yes - I'm that old.  :-)

OOOOOOOOH!

I need one of those! We heat our home with oil right now... I would be so mad if someone took ours! It's between $350 and $400 a month for 100 gallons.....

Any idea what those locks are called?

Psssst Todd... check this out This is just a test

We have a rash of heating oil thefts every year.  People forget or just never think to put a lock on their tank and all of a sudden the hundreds of gallons that was there... isn't.  At $1,500+/- for a full tank, that could be a nasty little surprise.

Todd, I agree. I was at a property the other day that had the heat pumps chained down to keep people from stealing them. People are really getting desperate.  8-}

We don't have oil tanks at our house, but at our lakehouse some of our neighbors have pontoons boats where the gas can sits on the back.  There have been several taken over the summer.  One neighbor was so frustrated that he set a full gas can on the back of his boat and put sugar in it.  I feel sorry for that thief, NOT. 

Todd, we've been having some pretty chilly weather here and some people are having their gas meters stolen. I guess I never knew you could do that. It's a shame

Wow, that surely sucks. I would have been a bit mad when I discovered the problem.

Sean Allen

Todd,

That tank in the picture when full at today's oil prices would be worth about $800. dollars! Thanks,   Fran

UNBELIEVABLE!!!  I have never heard of such a thing!  That is just crazy that someone would do such a thing.  That is pretty gutsy - I'm surprised no one saw them do it!

It's seems like history is repeating itself. Unfortunately, situations like this occurred in the 70's when gas was being siphoned due to high prices. Let's hope this will be the exception and not become a real problem again.

It's a shame your clients had to experience this.  It's tough enough to make ends meet today with the prices of everything going up like crazy - not just gas and oil.  I guess I'm showing my age, but I remember when you could leave your door open and all the neighbors would look out for one another.  Not so today.  It's now a different world.

Todd, We had a story similar to this on our local news. Fortunately for most here in NH if you have oil heat then your tank is in the basement more protected from theives.

I did a ride-a-long with the local police here 2 nights ago, and reports of these types of theft are escalating.. BUT I thought what one guy is doing is fantastic!

He has had full gas cans stolen from him every few days over the last couple of weeks... BUT what he's been doing in hopes of giving someone a bad day... is filling the gas cans with diesel and 2-stroke?

He hopes that the criminal will soon have to take a walk and think about what they've done ....

That is just so not right! I remember having to get locking caps for cars back in the70's. People were stealing gas every night. I just converted from oil and I would never have thought someone would steal oil. My tank is underground so I bet that would be more difficult.

Todd...

I say 'rig it'...In other words boobie trap it :)

A shot gun would work quite well on an oil tank :) 

Okay...So maybe a shot gun won't work. How about a pile of bricks...It would knock 'em out :)  

TLW...ROAR!  

Ardell - I can't condone them stealing from others, by them doing this, it left this family with 3 kids without heat for 3 days while they waiting for what they thought was a broker furnace to be fixed.

Rosario - Sad isn't it!

Jen - Most have it in their basements or underground. But, I'm guessing the cap still needs to be locked. This one was above ground and could be seen from the street, so I'm guessing that is what got these thieves attention.

Nancy - Sad that the times are coming back around to this. I won't tell anybody your age promise. You can continue to tell people your 29!

Sara - I checked out your link and the blog test looks good, but it takes over the whole page. You need to put an end html code in, so it doesn't bleed in to your other blogs.
I'll call my clients on Tuesday and ask them what it is called. I think it is actually more of a lock cover than a lock it self. It just makes it so the lock can't be cut off.

Jesse or Kathy - It could really ruin a Christmas real quick when you have a mortgage payments worth of oil taken, most people don't have that in reserve.

Michael - Stealing heat pumps, WOW that would take at lead 2 people I would think.

Laura - Good for them and I don't blame them for doing that at all! Teach the people to steal!

This is so sad that people have to resort to this, and a very expensive lesson for the homeowners. Thanks for the heads up.

Yikes!  It's as cold as Minnesota here in DC today, and I would not be happy if my heat went out.  Brrr!  And it's too bad it's come to this! Locking your tank is probably good advice wherever you live!

Thanks fo checking out my "test". I intentionally left it that way just to show what can be done LOL... perhaps red was not the way to go... making people angry??? LOL

Linda - Gas meters? What could people do with that?

Sean - A bit mad! They had to not only pay for new oil, but the service call also!

Fran - Sad, isn't it! $800 stolen out of this families wallet just at the time when Christmas bills are starting to come in.

James - During the day, I'm guessing most people were at work!

Derrick - Being we are starting to see power outages here because people are stealing copper wires from sub stations, I think it will continue!

George - I used to be the same way as a kid, friends would come over and just walk in without even knocking and my mom would just say hi! Can't do that anymore, that is for sure.

Todd, if someone's utilities have been cut off for non-payment some people steal another person's meter and hook it up to their house to use. The gas companies know how to trace them though and they're always caught.

Judy - I could see how that would make a little more noise.

Sara - I love it! A little harder to do with a full oil tank for warming the house though.

Jo - Maybe not as difficult as you think! They just siphon it out with a gas siphon.

TLW - I like your way of thinking! But, I'm guessing with all the drugs they are on, they wouldn't even feel it!

Bonnie - I felt really sorry for them and as an update, their home owners insurance wouldn't cover it.

Patricia - It is really sad!

Sara - Not angry unless their post was under yours - lol

Linda - OH, I see...What idiots, don't they realize that each has a unique bar code like groceries?