Thieves are getting smarter with their techniques to steal your stuff at a gas station. Here’s their latest technique.
It’s called sliding and its got Central Valley residents including everyone who pumps gas in California on edge when they exit their vehicle. As per ABC 30 Fresno News on their exclusive report on this nefarious way thieves are stealing your stuff put out earlier Friday (Sept. 28,2018) sliding uses your inattention and lack of vigilance to their advantage. While you’re pumping your gas unwaware of your surroundings since you’ve pumped gas literally thousands of times before, a thief will come up out of nowhere, creep out of view, slide into your driver’s side door and steal your valuables. Check out the video caught on camera of this slippery new technique below.
Although the actual TV Spot is much longer, the crime takes all of 13 seconds, enough time for a thief to spot your inattentiveness, creep near your car out of sight, and steal your belongings without you knowing. As you can see in the video the suspect spots someone whose left the car to run into the store presumably to pay for gas or buy something.
Oftentimes, since pumping gas is a habit and we give people the benefit of the doubt that no one will steal your stuff in the middle of the day, you’ll leave your car unlocked. That’s mistake number one according to Fresno Police.
Fresno Police Sergeant Justin Hoagland says most people are so focused on getting gas or getting a soda, they think they can just run into the gas station and run back and get out of the station without any problems.
Women should especially be vigilant as they often have kids with them and thieves, in a moment of desperation, might use your own vehicle to get away if caught, with your kids in tow.
The next time you’re at the pump, use your common sense and lock your car immediately once you get out. Keep any valuables locked in your trunk and be extra vigilant, especially when you feel like letting your mind wander. And it’s a little cliché, but the thieves are the ones you least expect, a well-dressed man, someone in uniform, even a fellow mom, all could be sliders AKA thieves.
A word of caution that you should be well versed in locking your car with your key in hand as you can easily lock yourself out, causing a slightly less annoying problem.
