An unusual incident occurred at an Exxon gas station in the United States on January 4. A man’s car was stolen while he was inflating the tires. Although the events were recorded by the establishment’s security cameras, this new theft practice has set off alarms and put citizens on alert.
In the video shared on Instagram by user Arisley Pacheco (@ppv_tahoe), an individual can be seen getting out of a red vehicle parked at the same gas station and, crouching down to go unnoticed, he heads towards the victim’s car.
Taking advantage of the fact that the driver left the door open while inflating the right tire, the thief quickly enters, starts the car and flees the scene, leaving the owner stunned and with no options to prevent the theft.
To avoid car theft, it is important to always remain alert and, in everyday situations at gas stations, it is advisable to lock the car.
“Be careful with your surroundings at all times. Turn off your car and lock it while you put gas or inflate the tires. Things happen faster than you think. Be smart and stay vigilant,” warns the user in the publication.
This practice adds to others already warned by the authorities such as ‘sowing’. Very popular at Christmas time, thieves take advantage of the fact that victims are distracted putting packages and purchases in the trunk of the vehicle, to enter the car and steal it.
Another type of theft that went viral on TikTok is breaking into a vehicle and starting it using a phone charger or USB cable instead of the key.
The “flat tire” method is a theft technique that occurs mostly at highway tolls and rest areas. Thieves puncture a tire with a sharp object, forcing the driver to stop. Meanwhile, criminals take the opportunity to steal everything they can from the vehicle.
