by KYW's Brad Segall

With gasoline approaching $4.00 a gallon in the Philadelphia region, local police departments are warning drivers to be aware of people looking to steal your gasoline.

A check of area auto parts stores finds that sales of locking gas caps are on the rise lately, as drivers look to protect a valuable commodity: gasoline.
 
There have been numerous reports around the country of people siphoning gasoline from cars, trying to make a quick buck. Cathy Rossi, of AAA Mid-Atlantic, says that thieves have added a new twist to the crime:

"This time we are seeing some fuel lines being cut and gasoline tanks being punctured. And that’s new. They’re finding a new way to get to what they think is some kind of liquid gold.”

She says the last time we saw gas siphoning was just after Hurricane Katrina, when prices spiked. And before that we have to go all the way back to the '70s, during the oil crisis.

Rossi advises drivers to park in well-lighted areas, and in their garages at home if they can.