Cops, gas stations prepare for thefts as prices continue to rise
CTV
Police and small retailers are preparing for an increase in 'gas-and-dash' thefts as gasoline prices across Canada soar following sanctions against Russia that have put the squeeze on global oil supply.
The invasion of Ukraine just over two weeks ago has prompted some countries, including the United States, to ban imports of Russian oil or to move toward phasing them out.
Gasoline costs ranged between $1.60 and $1.90 per litre for the past week, says the gas-price tracking website GasBuddy.com.
A spokesman for the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police said it has started hearing from the retail industry about concerns related to theft.
"There's a national suspicion that some people may resort to (theft)," Joe Couto, the association's director of communications, said in an interview.
