An Inland Empire resident is cautioning others after thieves drilled into her vehicle’s fuel tank to steal gasoline.
The incident occurred on Sept. 19, when Heather Velasco parked her truck outside Kindred Hospital in Rancho Cucamonga, where she works.
Later that day, while heading to lunch with a coworker, Velasco noticed a strong gasoline odor near her truck.
Initially, she assumed it was coming from a nearby diesel truck, but the reality was far worse.
As they started driving, Velasco quickly realized something was wrong. Her truck, only three years old, began sputtering—a surprising development for such a new vehicle.
“We drove across the street, and my car started sputtering,” she recalled.
Concerned, Velasco pulled over to inspect her truck. That’s when she discovered that thieves had drilled into her fuel tank and stolen her gasoline.
“I just looked under and sure enough, there was a hole and it was leaking gas,” she explained. Upon closer inspection, she saw another hole, confirming that her truck had been deliberately targeted.
Velasco immediately called the police and had her truck towed for repairs. However, the aftermath left her with significant financial burdens.
To repair the damage, she faced two costly options: pay $4,000 upfront or go through her insurance, which required a $1,000 deductible and would result in higher premiums.
Velasco ultimately decided to file an insurance claim, but that still left her without a vehicle for a week.
The lack of transportation had a domino effect on her daily life. Without her truck, Velasco had to rely on others to drive her three children to school.
She also missed shifts at her job, further straining her already tight budget.
“It’s hard times,” Velasco said. “We’re living in times where everything is inflated. Trying to raise a family and trying to do things right—you’re not getting anywhere because you’ve got these criminals on the run, and they’re just doing whatever they want.”
Local police noted that gas siphoning incidents have been on the rise in the area since 2023.
As fuel prices continue to soar, criminals have increasingly targeted parked vehicles, drilling directly into fuel tanks to steal gas.
Velasco’s case is just one of many that underscore the growing threat of fuel theft, a crime that leaves victims not only with the loss of gasoline but also with expensive repairs and added inconvenience.
Velasco’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for other vehicle owners in the area, reminding them to remain vigilant and consider preventive measures to protect their cars from similar attacks.
