”Since these high gas prices have gone up, it's gotten worse,“ said Brooks Oil General Manager Tommy Johnson.
Over the past two months, there has been $1,000 in drive-offs from Brooks Oil's three gas stations in Middlesboro.
”To some extent, it's not devastating, but it's an expense we shouldn't have to take,“ said owner Jerry Brooks.
While $1,000 may seem minimal to some, when compared to the monthly income generated by the stations, the lost revenue, combined with the changes in supply, effects the daily gas prices.
”The price is governed by the daily fluctuation of price at our terminal in Knoxville,“ said Brooks.
Other gas suppliers in the region have also reported similar problems.
Terry Lee, president of Lee Oil Company, Inc., said there had been a corresponding increase in gasoline theft as prices have risen.
Lee Oil Company, Inc. is currently operating 15 gas stations in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.
”In the long run this type of dishonesty hurts the honest consumers,“ said Lee.
Johnson said the increase in price above the $2.70 mark seemed to generate an increase in the number of drive-offs.
Most stolen amounts seem to fall within the range of $10-$30.
Addressing the problem has been both challenging and frustrating.
The only way to prevent it, Lee said, is to require prepayment at the pumps. At his stations, this measure has been taken only at the less visible pumps.
Many other gas stations have also instituted pre-pay policies, but Brooks said his company viewed a pre-pay policy as an additional inconvenience on the customer.
Instead, Brooks Oil is looking for other ways to deal with the problem.
”We're considering purchasing high-tech surveillance system for each of our stations. But before we can justify that we intend to seek the support of local law enforcement,“ said Brooks, who added that his company had an excellent relationship with the Middlesboro Police Department.
While Brooks said his company would prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law, Lee said prevention was more effective.
”It is virtually a waste of time to try to apprehend these people because it is too difficult and dangerous to pursue them,“ he said. ”The police do what they can. It's not their fault.“
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