No police reports have been filed and no arrests have been made, only a photo of a getaway truck and an offer to put the thief to work.
SEATTLE — A Seattle couple said someone has siphoned gas from their work vehicles nearly half a dozen times in recent years, and a neighbor recently caught the latest theft in the act.
Maria Walton said she was stepping outside to open her shop when she noticed a strong odor.
“I actually said out loud, ‘What is that gas smell?’” Walton said. “And I went to check my car. My tank was locked.”
She then looked toward a neighbor’s truck and saw a man crouched beside it.
“He stood up and ran off, and he had like a 5-gallon container of gas,” she said. “He ran out to his getaway vehicle — and on top of it, they had like three or four more full containers.”
Another neighbor photographed the alleged getaway vehicle, described as a dark-colored truck with what appeared to be containers on the roof.
The victims, Rich Tyas and Kay Barclay, said the thief made off with about half a tank of fuel — roughly $50 worth — from Tyas’ work truck, which was equipped with a locking gas cap.
For Tyas, who has run Tangent Construction Inc. since 1985 and relies on his vehicles to haul equipment and materials to job sites across Seattle, it was far from the first time.
“This is maybe the sixth or seventh,” he said.
Tyas said the thefts have occurred across both of his work vehicles over the past three to four years. Despite the repeated incidents, neither he nor Barclay filed a police report.
“I don’t believe that it’s a good use of police time,” Tyas said.
No other neighbors have reported similar thefts in the area.
The theft comes as gas prices in the Seattle area have climbed sharply. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular gas in Seattle is $5.62, up from $5.11 a month ago and $4.53 a year ago. The statewide average is $5.39, compared with a national average of $4.09.
Historically, law enforcement in the region has noted a correlation between rising gas prices and an increase in fuel theft. Some thieves use rubber hoses to siphon fuel, while others drill directly into gas tanks — a method that can be costly for vehicle owners.
Walton said she believes the thieves are organized and deliberately targeting the neighborhood.
“They probably case us, cruise around, look for trucks like this,” she said. “He clearly picked the lock, so he’s got some skills.”
She suspects the stolen fuel is being resold and said the thefts reflect broader economic pressures.
“Gas prices are almost $6,” Walton said. “And now we’re starting to steal from each other as a result of what’s happening.”
Barclay echoed that sentiment, saying she believes financial desperation may be driving the crimes.
“People are resorting to what they can get away with,” she said. “They use that as a stream of income — selling the gas to others.”
Walton said the brazenness of the theft still caught her off guard, noting it happened in broad daylight just feet from where she and her husband were inside.
“It just kind of amazed me that it could happen without me hearing anything,” Barclay said. “I’m usually pretty alert to what’s going on around the house.”
Despite the frustration, Tyas said he holds no ill will toward whoever is responsible and would gladly put them to work instead.
“I’d love to give him something to do and maybe be able to afford his own gas by purchase instead of by theft,” he said.
His message to the alleged thief was measured.
“We’ve got hard work to do on our projects,” he said.
Walton said the incident reinforced the importance of neighbors looking out for one another.
“It was a whole thing of everybody taking care of each other,” she said. “I think the best course of action we have is to take care of each other — start looking out for each other.”
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