Security against suspected fuel siphoning

imfml

Looking for some advice please.

I live in a Dublin apartment block and have noticed a substantial increase in my fuel usage. I haven't changed my driving style and I've done all the obvious checks on things such as tyre pressure etc. There also doesn't appear to be any leak.

I suspect that cars in the underground apartment car park may be getting siphoned. Are there any good security devices against this?

Thanks

Interslice

Sneaky camera to catch the wanker.

Dord

Do you have a lock on the filler cap or flap?

imfml

No, its a metal flip cap and then a plastic screw filler cap, no locks. Car is a Focus.

Camera isn't an option really, it'd disappear. I have tried security seal but they aren't the best. Is it possible to install a lock?

Dord

Does the door/flap lock when you lock the car? If not I'd suggest you get a locking cap for the tank.

7ofBrian

Put a camera inside the car. If That disappears its a matter for the Gardai as someone has broken into your car!

colm_mcm

Surely you'd notice if the car was full then suddenly not?

power pants

similar happened to my car a couple of years ago in the underground car park i had. They took my petrol cap as well, When I locked the door the flap would be "locked" too but they managed to prize that open easily enough.

have a ****ty cap on it now with a lock

El Guapo!

Could it be possible that you actually have a problem with your car which is causing poor fuel economy, rather than someone stealing your petrol?

I mean, are you getting up in the morning with a half a tank of fuel missing or are you just noticing it in running costs?

imfml

No, it's not large amounts of fuel at a time, but my fuel usage has certainly increased. Is it unlikely they would go to the hassle of just taking say 5 liters from several cars at a time? It's not a case of it going from full to empty, but they have 100 + cars to take from. There doesn't appear to be any defects with my car. Can anyone suggest a lock they have fitted?

slimjimmc

Doesn't the Focus (like many other cars) have an anti-syphon filler?
OP when you say your fuel usage as increased can you quantify it?

7ofBrian

how bout this:

slimjimmc

7ofBrian wrote: »

how bout this:

It depends on if that window is up or down :P

Supergurrier

So this is what has been happenning to me too !

Thank heavens

Atlantic Dawn

It would be such an operation why would anyone bother taking a litre or two here or there, they would syphon every car dry if they went to the hassle to start with.

My guess is as was stated is your own fuel usage and a problem somewhere with the engine.

For ultimate paranoia sorter get a tiny cut down piece of selotape and place it over the edge of the filler cap to see if it's been broken or removed next time you check it, that would indicate tampering.

arleitiss

back in my country, in my village, I had one crazy neighbor, he never locked the car, he always had the boot open, but there is a trick... there was a dog on a chain attached to the towbar, dog could get as far as 2 meters from car, it had bed/soft place in the boot (it was a wagon type body), and it had food + water dishes there too, so it acted like a dog house, when he drove the car he simply took dog off the lash and it was sitting in car. Never seen any single person getting close to his car, nor there was ever a problem with that dog biting people (because nobody got close to it)

dh0011

OP are you sure you are filling the car with the same amount of fuel as you previously did?

dantastic

Oooooh you could have so much fun with this!

Think similar ink charges the security companies stash with the cash they transport. Probably would want something that would wash off the car though....

7ofBrian

did you get to the bottom of this?

biko

It's not likely someone will steal a few litres worth over time (but anything is possible I suppose).
There are many other factors that will dramatically decrease mpg such as sticky brake pads, low tyre pressure, engine issues, ...
Any of those are more likely than a nightly petrol thief, start there.

Start measuring your fuel consumption properly by brimming method. It will give a real figure for your consumption and leave out the guesswork.

Oh and get a locking cap for the fuel tank. Just in case.

Sobanek

biko wrote: »

It's not likely someone will steal a few litres worth over time (but anything is possible I suppose).
There are many other factors that will dramatically decrease mpg such as sticky brake pads, low tyre pressure, engine issues, ...
Any of those are more likely than a nightly petrol thief, start there.

Start measuring your fuel consumption properly by brimming method. It will give a real figure for your consumption and leave out the guesswork.

Oh and get a locking cap for the fuel tank. Just in case.

Remember the MK4 Golf samaritan who only took 55 quid? :rolleyes:

NuckingFacker

Whatever about your case OP, the amount of gowls syphoning diesel from Trucks, generators and plant is unreal. One place we went to to secure had had 3000 liters of diesel robbed from 5 truck tanks - international artics - there the fcukers were, bold as brass on the cctv recording -they cut the fence and carried the diesel away in 5 gallon drums, it took them hours and hours. They were actually driving an Opel Corsa!. If you asked them to do it as a job they would be too idle to take that hardship. I have a pain in my face putting locks on static generators to stop the fuel getting swiped at night - there 2000 liters in your average genny so it's a big payday for the scummers. Trucks parked up overnight where-ever are also very vulnerable - the driver is asleep and doesn't notice till he goes to start the engine. And the gangs involved can be pretty heavy too as it happens.

Interslice

NuckingFacker wrote: »

Whatever about your case OP, the amount of gowls syphoning diesel from Trucks, generators and plant is unreal. One place we went to to secure had had 3000 liters of diesel robbed from 5 truck tanks - international artics - there the fcukers were, bold as brass on the cctv recording -they cut the fence and carried the diesel away in 5 gallon drums, it took them hours and hours. They were actually driving an Opel Corsa!. If you asked them to do it as a job they would be too idle to take that hardship. I have a pain in my face putting locks on static generators to stop the fuel getting swiped at night - there 2000 liters in your average genny so it's a big payday for the scummers. Trucks parked up overnight where-ever are also very vulnerable - the driver is asleep and doesn't notice till he goes to start the engine. And the gangs involved can be pretty heavy too as it happens.

How do you fit 3000l of diesel in a corsa ? :pac:

Renegade Mechanic

NuckingFacker wrote: »

If you asked them to do it as a job they would be too idle to take that hardship..

Laugh of the day right there. So f*ckin true:D

NuckingFacker

Interslice wrote: »

How do you fit 3000l of diesel in a corsa ? :pac:

I'll tell you how, and frankly, I fcuking loled - they filled the boot and back seats, headed off to scummer villas with it, came back and did it all again. It took them a load of trips. And they were driving a petrol car... And cctv is a waste of time tbh, cos the picture quality is so crap on most systems that it could be either Mother Teresa or the Dali Lama blagging the fuel and no-one could tell - the hoodies go up and it's just a case of "hoodie 1 in red and hoodie 2 in blue.."

mgbgt1978

arleitiss wrote: »

back in my country, in my village, I had one crazy neighbor, he never locked the car, he always had the boot open, but there is a trick... there was a dog on a chain attached to the towbar, dog could get as far as 2 meters from car, it had bed/soft place in the boot (it was a wagon type body), and it had food + water dishes there too, so it acted like a dog house, when he drove the car he simply took dog off the lash and it was sitting in car. Never seen any single person getting close to his car, nor there was ever a problem with that dog biting people (because nobody got close to it)

When I read this all I can picture is Borat in a Mankini .....sorry arleitiss

Scortho

NuckingFacker wrote: »

I'll tell you how, and frankly, I fcuking loled - they filled the boot and back seats, headed off to scummer villas with it, came back and did it all again. It took them a load of trips. And they were driving a petrol car... And cctv is a waste of time tbh, cos the picture quality is so crap on most systems that it could be either Mother Teresa or the Dali Lama blagging the fuel and no-one could tell - the hoodies go up and it's just a case of "hoodie 1 in red and hoodie 2 in blue.."

Monitored CCTV helps in that case

NuckingFacker

Scortho wrote: »

Monitored CCTV helps in that case

Or two layers of re-bar mesh welded to the perimeter fence, in this case. That palisade fencing is a waste of time - the "lads" just prise two upright bars apart and voila - access and egress to beat the band.

Renegade Mechanic

Electricity works wonders, friends.

Aestivalis

NuckingFacker wrote: »

Whatever about your case OP, the amount of gowls syphoning diesel from Trucks, generators and plant is unreal. One place we went to to secure had had 3000 liters of diesel robbed from 5 truck tanks - international artics - there the fcukers were, bold as brass on the cctv recording -they cut the fence and carried the diesel away in 5 gallon drums, it took them hours and hours. They were actually driving an Opel Corsa!. If you asked them to do it as a job they would be too idle to take that hardship. I have a pain in my face putting locks on static generators to stop the fuel getting swiped at night - there 2000 liters in your average genny so it's a big payday for the scummers. Trucks parked up overnight where-ever are also very vulnerable - the driver is asleep and doesn't notice till he goes to start the engine. And the gangs involved can be pretty heavy too as it happens.

Reminds me: Back when I was in secondary school we went on a short school trip to a science lecture at a college. We were there I'd say 3 hours max. When we came back to the bus the entire tank had been siphoned out and we had to wait for a second bus to come pick us up.

mental.

NuckingFacker

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Electricity works wonders, friends.

Yeah, but I'm not enduring a Leaf just to avoid diesel theft.

Renegade Mechanic

NuckingFacker wrote: »

Yeah, but I'm not enduring a Leaf just to avoid diesel theft.

Not quite what I meant but I suppose driving one could still technically work!:D

tin79

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Electricity works wonders, friends.

Do you mean "get an EV" or "get a long extension cord connected to the mains"?

dr.fuzzenstein

7ofBrian wrote: »

how bout this:

Then the kids usually shout: "Hey mister, can your dog put out fires too?"

Renegade Mechanic

tin79 wrote: »

Do you mean "get an EV" or "get a long extension cord connected to the mains"?

Eh, I mean surround the storage tank with a 1000v chicken wire fence

Kenny Logins

Coil pack. :pac: