NCJ Number
80446
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1981) Pages: 350-356
Date Published
1981
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Findings are presented from a study that examined the frequency of leaving a gas station without paying, as well as the typical offender and the effectiveness of theft prevention techniques.
Abstract
Data were obtained from interviews with 46 service station attendants in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Ala., inquiries sent to 17 major U.S. oil companies, and self-reports from 51 college students. The most striking finding from the station attendant interviews was the consistent success of thousands of drive-aways reported and observed. Most of the successful thefts occurred at self-service stations and were committed by persons traveling in groups. Most offenses involved losses of one to three dollars and usually occurred during rush hour or in the evening. The police were rarely perceived as being interested in the pursuit of drive-aways. Four of the major oil companies indicated that drive-aways are of significant frequency to have prompted preventive measures. Eight percent of the students reported that they had driven away from a station without paying, and an additional 11 percent reported they had been riding with a person who did not pay. When asked if they would drive away without paying if they knew they would not be caught, 20 percent indicated they would. None of the subjects indicated they would leave a station without paying if they knew there was a 50 percent chance of being caught. The most effective preventive measures appear to be coin-operated pumps, pay-in-advance policies, and the use of steel spring-loaded cutter bars to channel the traffic past a single cashier point. However, station owners and managers feel that customers are inconvenienced and resent the atmosphere of mistrust. Eight references are listed.