Image: Reddit Image: Reddit As of this writing, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that the average cost of a gallon of gas across the nation is $4.044, and diesel is a wince-inducing $5.403/gallon. Those numbers are up $0.903/gallon and $1.869/gallon, respectively, compared to the same week a year ago. The high cost of fuel is taking its toll, and thieves are turning to unorthodox ways to put money in their pockets and gas in their tanks. Image: Rohane Hamilton Image: Rohane Hamilton 2026 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet: All the Details Gas theft was once a big thing-remember the accessory locking gas caps made popular in the mid-2000s-and it's coming back with a vengeance. Stories are popping up around the country, not of instances of siphoning to see out the theft of fuel, but rather something more crude: Drilling holes in the gas tank. That's right, thieves are now taking power drills to unsuspecting victims' gas tanks, connecting a hose, and draining as much of the fuel out of the tank as possible into a gas can or other fluid-holding apparatus. The result is that the thieves can get away with the crime in just minutes, and the victims are stuck with a destroyed tank that needs to be replaced. Why not just siphon the gas out? Many cars are fitted with curved, purposefully siphon-resistant fuel filler necks, many of which are also cap-less and thus nearly impossible to siphon through as-is. Image: Farm Progress Image: Farm Progress It's not particularly surprising that instances of gas theft are becoming more prevalent, thanks entirely to the current state of the economy and how brutally expensive gasoline and diesel are, not to mention the also-increasing cost of living. Thankfully, comprehensive automotive insurance policies should cover the replacement of a fuel tank damaged by theft, but those concerned should contact their insurance company and run through the policy just to be sure. About a decade ago, catalytic converter shields became a big thing when the theft of those parts skyrocketed in frequency. Now, there might be even more of a case to be made for a gas tank skid plate above and beyond their purpose in the 4WD world. Weird times, these are. 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee: All the Details
