#Socialites, we know the gas prices across the nation are insane, but get into this crazy story! A Utah man was caught on camera stealing gas from a fire protection company truck and ironically caught on fire during the thieving act!
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Utah Man Catches Fire Stealing Gas From Fire Protection Company Truck
As gas prices soar nationally, last weekend, an unidentified man was captured on surveillance camera siphoning gas out of an idle truck. At around 10 a.m. on Saturday (June 11), a thief in Salt Lake City, Utah parked his white pickup truck next to a Summit Fire and Protection work truck.
The video captures the man, in broad daylight, trying to steal the gas and soon paying a hefty price for the silly crime he committed. The man is seen working underneath the Summit work truck, on the side of the gas tank.
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During the incident, the thief goes between both cars trying to steal the gas. Eventually, he jumps up one final time from the ground, this time with his shirt on fire. He begins to run away from in between the trucks, trying to put the flames out. He is seen on camera stop, dropping and rolling across the parking lot.
As the man tries to put the flames out, his accomplice, who is behind the wheel of the white pickup truck, notices what is going on and begins pull away from the smoking and flaming Summit work truck.
The thief’s accomplice drives up to him, picking him up, and they then flee the flaming and smoky scene. As the truck leaves the frame of the surveillance footage, viewers still see the Summit work truck in flames and smoking.
Summit Fire Protection Official Speaks Out After Man Stealing Gas Catches On Fire
While an official from the business has been upset and victimized multiple times before — including a stolen catalytic converter and another siphoning situation.
Speaking on the latest incident, Branch Manager Travis Mills says, “Some people try to take the easy way out of everything. The guy tried to siphon gas out of it and he wasn’t getting the siphon to work. So he decided to drill the gas tank, and that’s when he caught on fire.”
When the man catches on fire and runs away, Mills says, “The reason why he’s fleeing is that, if there were more gas in it than a gallon, this thing would have absolutely turned into a bomb. It’s sad because times are tough for a lot of people, but it’s not worth the $5 that he would have saved for the the injury that the guy sustained.”
Mills also revealed that after having multiple catalytic converter thefts and smash and grab thefts in recent years, the company has invested in a $30,000 security system before the latest incident. Mills says, “It’s been expensive.”
Meanwhile Division Chief Tony Allred, Salt Lake City Fire Marshal said, “Unfortunately, given the gas prices in the valley and nationwide, we are seeing an increase in gas theft.”
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