As Gas Prices Climb, So Do Gas Thefts

Related Newser Stories

• Millionaire's Thievery Ruins Priceless Books

  Nov 21, 08 2:30 PM CST
  An Iranian scholar and millionaire sliced pages from extremely rare volumes at the British Library, some dating back to the 16th century, to replace missing sections in his own book collection, reports the Independent. Farhad Hakimzadeh, who pleaded guilty to theft and faces prison time, removed pages from a reported 150 volumes over the course of eight years, causing an estimated $1.5 million in damages. More »

• Gas Prices Plummet Below $2

  Nov 21, 08 5:41 AM CST
  As crude oil sank below $50 for the first time in years, gas prices in America continued their precipitous fall, with the average cost of a gallon below $2 today for the first time since 2005. The turnabout is the sharpest since the government began tracking prices in 1980. Suddenly, writes the Wall Street Journal, debate in Washington has shifted from whether the government should give drivers a tax break to whether Congress should hike taxes.
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• NYC Cops Bust Pickpocket, 76, for 37th Time

  Oct 21, 08 11:33 AM CDT
  Can you blame an old lady for being set in her ways? New York City cops have busted a 76-year-old woman with 20 aliases and 30 convictions for the 37th time, the New York Post reports. This time known as "Katherine Kelly," she was nabbed after lifting a wallet—and stuffing it in her bra—during a supermarket sting. "She was a pickpocket terrorist and had to be caught," says a police source.
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• Construction Theft Is Building Concern

  Aug 28, 08 9:33 AM CDT
  Increasing theft of building materials from construction sites, especially residential projects, is driving up the cost of homes to consumers as much as 10%, the New York Times reports. Experts say as much as $5 billion a year is being lost to thieves looking to profit from skyrocketing prices for building materials and metal prices. More »

• Small Dips in Gas Prices Send Drivers Back to SUVs

  Aug 12, 08 2:04 PM CDT
  Oil prices have been falling since mid-June, and though it’s debatable whether speculators or market fundamentals drove the boom (and now possible bust), it is clear that $4 a gallon gas crimped demand. But for how long? With prices now again below that psychological threshold but still $1.19 more than a year ago, auto industry data suggest that even mild relief could reverse the trend toward fuel efficiency, the LA Times reports.
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