By Keith Vass - Victoria News

Published: June 30, 2008 12:00 PM Updated: July 07, 2008 4:08 PM

A flaming truck racing up Douglas Street Monday morning was trying to escape the scene of a gas-siphoning accident that destroyed five vehicles and left the suspect in hospital with severe burns.

Police got several calls about the burning truck around 4 a.m., followed quickly by calls that trucks were on fire at the U-Haul lot at 776 Topaz Ave.

The fleeing truck made it to the corner of Douglas and Finlayson streets before the driver, overcome by flames, pulled over and bailed out.

"By the time our officers arrived, the vehicle was fully engulfed," said Victoria police spokesman Sgt. Grant Hamilton.

The driver was taken to Victoria General Hospital with serious burns to upper body, where he remained in police custody and in serious condition. He may face theft and arson charges after he recovers, Hamilton said.

Police believe the 38-year-old man was using a battery-powered pump to siphon fuel from one of the U-Haul trucks into his own gas tank when a spark started a blaze.

He tried to drive away, but with the rubber hose still attached, the flames spread to his own fuel tank.

Four trucks were destroyed at the U-Haul lot, which Hamilton said has been a frequent target for gas siphoners.

But despite soaring fuel prices, Hamilton said police aren't seeing a rise in reports of gas thefts.

"Now with most newer vehicles it's very hard to siphon gas because they have locking gas caps," he said, adding mandatory pre-payment introduced in B.C. last summer has reduced gas theft from retailers.

Submitted on 07/14/2008

Submitted by: Gavin Joth
Reference: http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/victorianews/news/22724469.html

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Using a portable electric pump is a huge no-no when it comes to gasoline. This mook certainly should have known better. Unfortunately as gas prices continue to rise I'm sure we'll be seeing more stories like this in the not to distant future. Thanks, Gavin.

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Gas siphoning is common; what this moron did -setting fire to several trucks, including his own- is not. Bruce is right; Electric-anything that can cause sparks is a huge DON'T around gas fumes! He's bloody lucky he didn't hurt anyone else. And gas thieves will be hitting even harder times if more people follow the two I overheard in the checkout line; one had decided to pay to have a locking gas cap retrofitted rather than having to replace stolen gas again. Thanks, Gavin, and hope to hear from you again!

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