Photo: contributed
Fuel theft in Vernon.
A serial gas thief appears to be circling the Okanagan.
Following reports of drilling of gas tanks in Kelowna, Westside, and UBC Okanagan, it appears that the same suspect has been hit again, this time in Vernon.
Shaun McCoy says someone punctured the tank of his Subaru Impreza on Sunday after leaving the vehicle in the parking lot of his work at Kekuli Bay Cabinetry, at the northern end of Swan Lake.
Security camera footage shows a man in a black GMC Sonoma van stopping by McCoy’s car and holding a drum.
The same vehicle appears to have been used in the Kelowna gas thefts as well.
“Video surveillance shows the same kind of little black truck and a person of very similar complexion and hair color carrying a red gas tank,” McCoy says.
He arrived at work on Monday morning with his other vehicle and didn’t notice anything at first until a co-worker said, “What’s under your car?”
“Unfortunately, he was a little vulnerable. of the week.
“Luckily, I have another vehicle,” he said.
The robbery took place around 2:45 a.m. and McCoy says the culprit “left gasoline all over the floor, leaving little to pick up. Enraged, he tries to get into the vehicle and ends up ripping off the door handle and not come in. “
Gasoline thefts have been on the rise as the price of fuel has stayed above $ 2 a liter.
In a Kelowna robbery on Campion Road, the same black van was captured in a surveillance video when two delivery vehicles were attacked.
The thief entered a locked enclosure to steal fuel.
Meanwhile, ICBC says it has not seen a significant increase in fuel thefts in recent weeks.
The insurer recommends parking in a well-lit area, in a locked garage or enclosure, adjusting security systems to activate them from vibrations such as those produced by a saw or drill, and reporting all incidents to the police.
McCoy says the incident leaves him frustrated.
“We all break our asses to do what we have to do,” he said. “Instead, we’re not going to steal.”
Photo: contributed
Kelowna fuel theft.