Officials Hope Latest Gas Drilling Incident Doesn't Start a Trend | Crime

Last year, law enforcement officials in our area saw a sudden increase in thefts.

Where people actually drill into gas tanks and steal gasoline.

They're hoping that trend isn't making a comeback.

In the past week, two trucks were hit while parked near the Greenway Co-op grain bins in Byron.

Each tank costs over $250 to fix.

The amount of gas taken was less than $40.

Not only do these thefts bring very little reward, but officials say they're downright dangerous.

"We don't want to have people thinking that this is a safe or an alternate way to fill their tanks. Eventually the luck is going to run out and there's going to be somebody that's hurt seriously trying to do this,” says Olmsted County Sgt. Tom Claymon.

Olmsted County deputies are trying to discourage anyone from drilling into gas tanks.

Last year they saw multiple fires from ignited fumes.

They're hoping that it doesn't happen again.