New push for provinces to bring in gas pre-pay rules over theft concerns
Posted Mar 11, 2022 1:00 am.
Last Updated Mar 11, 2022 12:15 pm.
There’s a push for more provinces to follow B.C. and Alberta’s lead and bring in pay-at-the-pump rules when it comes to gassing up.
Police forces and small retailers in Canada are preparing for an increase in gasoline thefts as prices continue to rise across the country.
The Convenience Industry Council of Canada says making people pay before they fill up is the only way to deal with the problem, as sanctions against Russia, the ongoing pandemic, and increasing demand amid COVID recovery plans put a squeeze on global oil supply.
Anne Kothawala, president of the council, says owners and consumers are at the mercy of these issues, adding everyone is struggling.
“As an industry, this is something where governments are going to have to step in because it’s not only impacting the consumer, it’s also impacting these local gas stations and convenience stores that, frankly, have been there throughout COVID for their community,” she said.
“These are global issues that we have little control over and I think it’s probably going to get worse before it gets better.”
B.C. and Alberta are on the only provinces with pre-pay rules.
In recent days, prices have spiked to levels never seen before. In B.C., the price for a litre of regular hit as high as $2.149 this week, though some relief has been felt amid a slight drop Friday.
The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police says it has been hearing from the retail industry about concerns related to theft.
It says it’s been working with the Ontario Convenience Stores Association to lobby the provincial government for pre-pay legislation.
While there have been reports of gas thefts in recent days in some areas, some police forces say it’s too soon to know whether there will be an increase in gas thefts, though a trend has been noticed by many during the pandemic.
The Saskatoon Police Service said in a statement it has noticed more gas theft across all its divisions over the last few years. While it says it hasn’t noticed a notable increase or change since gas prices began to rise, Saskatoon police added it will be monitoring thefts to see if there are any developing trends.
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In Winnipeg, Const. Dani McKinnon estimated the Winnipeg Police Service has had a handful of reports of gas thefts recently.
“When people get desperate, they look at crimes of opportunity and they take that opportunity. It’s something we’re certainly going to continue to monitor.”
McKinnon said while theft at the pumps is always a concern, investigators were faced with a unique case this week.
Gas was siphoned from a daycare’s vehicles after someone drilled holes into the tanks and caused thousands of dollars in damage.
“It’s definitely a time-sensitive situation and it’s turning into a bit of a nightmare for everyone,” Carol Jones, executive director at Little People’s Place, said in an interview with the Canadian Press.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada said agencies do not specifically track personal vehicle gas thefts. It noted that any data on vehicle damage relating to thefts would be included under theft of parts or under vandalism claims, so it’s hard to determine how often these thefts are happening.
