CStore Decisions

  • Home
  • Today on CSD
  • Categories
    • CBD
    • Foodservice
    • Fuel & Gas
    • Health & Beauty
    • Independent Operators
    • Operations & Marketing
    • Technology
  • CStore Playbooks
    • CBD Playbook
    • Foodservice Playbook
    • Technology Playbook
    • Alcoholic Beverage Playbook
    • Tobacco Playbook
  • Products
    • Hot New Products Contest
    • Beverages & Cold Vault
    • Candy, Gum & Mints
    • Snacks
    • Tobacco
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Research & Downloads
    • Podcasts/How To Series
    • On Location
    • FAQ
    • 2022 Top 111 Chains
    • Leaders in Convenience
    • Rack Prices
    • Sponsored Content
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
  • Events
    • 2021 Chain of the Year
    • Convenience Directions
    • NAG Convenience Conference
    • Young Executive Organization
  • Join
    • National Advisory Group
    • Safe Shop Assured
    • Young Executive Organization

Texas ordinance preventing gas thefts

By CSD Staff | November 25, 2007

Share

Measure fines clerks for turning on fuel pumps for cash customers before payment.

A new city ordinance in Rockport, Texas that fines clerks for turning on the fuel before a customer pays has put the brakes on gas thefts. Now other local jurisdictions are looking at creating similar rules, the Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller Times reported.

By the time police showed up to investigate the 242 drive-offs reported in 2006, station clerks often had no description of the culprit or vehicle, said Rockport City Manager Tom Blazek.

By August of this year, when the city council passed the “pay before you pump” ordinance, police had been called out for more than 150 drive-offs. Drivers still can pull up to the pumps and pay with a credit or debit card. The ordinance targets drivers paying cash. With gas at nearly $3 a gallon, turning on the pumps and allowing a customer to fill up before the money is brought inside the building can be a recipe for theft, law enforcement officials said.

“Either the clerk did not see who did it or called too late for police to do anything or the clerk filled up his buddy’s truck,” Blazek told the paper. “We have had a couple of negative comments, but the companies themselves are happier because they are not the bad guys, but they are not losing money in drive-offs.”

After Rockport passed the gas ordinance, drive-offs in neighboring Aransas Pass increased, the report said. Within the past month, following Rockport’s lead, the Aransas Pass City Council unanimously passed a pay before you pump ordinance. Corpus Christi police are pushing for a similar ordinance, and it could happen right after the first of the year.

Prior efforts to do so were derailed by large gas retailers who fear they would lose market share to smaller retailers who might not follow the ordinance. Recent discussions with gas retailers have been more productive because a proposed ordinance would come with a fine ranging from $200 to $500 for retailers who don’t comply.

Last year, 1,521 of the city’s roughly 21,000 crimes, which range from murder to petty theft, were drive-offs. In Rockport last week, five of six clerks at convenience stores were pleased with the ordinance and said it works well to prevent theft.

Related Articles Read More >

bp Shares Plan to Decarbonize the Texas Gulf Coast
7-Eleven Expands Convenience Through Tech
Thorntons Opens New Store
Enmarket Teams Up With Veteran Carriers to Feed Truckers
Safe Shop Assured

CStore Decisions Newsletter

Sponsored Content

  • Create Some Positivity at the Pump: 3 Ways to Fuel Customer Experiences
  • How Minuteman Food Mart Ensures a Consistent Customer Experience Across 44 Stores
  • Three Challenges Disrupting C-Store Operations and How to Overcome Them
  • Why Wait? Converting to E15 is easy.
  • It’s time you profited from your checkout line

Get the Magazine

Subscribe Now!
Subscribe Now!

Manage Current Subscription
CStore Decisions
  • New CSD Print Subscription
  • Manage current print subscription
  • CBD Retail Trends
  • CStore Products
  • NAG Convenience Conference
  • Convenience Directions
  • Rack Prices
  • Subscribe to CSD’s E-Newsletter
  • About CStore Decisions
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search CStore Decisions

  • Home
  • Today on CSD
  • Categories
    • CBD
    • Foodservice
    • Fuel & Gas
    • Health & Beauty
    • Independent Operators
    • Operations & Marketing
    • Technology
  • CStore Playbooks
    • CBD Playbook
    • Foodservice Playbook
    • Technology Playbook
    • Alcoholic Beverage Playbook
    • Tobacco Playbook
  • Products
    • Hot New Products Contest
    • Beverages & Cold Vault
    • Candy, Gum & Mints
    • Snacks
    • Tobacco
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Research & Downloads
    • Podcasts/How To Series
    • On Location
    • FAQ
    • 2022 Top 111 Chains
    • Leaders in Convenience
    • Rack Prices
    • Sponsored Content
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
  • Events
    • 2021 Chain of the Year
    • Convenience Directions
    • NAG Convenience Conference
    • Young Executive Organization
  • Join
    • National Advisory Group
    • Safe Shop Assured
    • Young Executive Organization