(CNN)The manager of a family-owned gas station in Houston, Texas, chased off suspected thieves who he said had already removed more than 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel from the store’s underground tanks in separate incidents.
Jerry Thayil, whose father owns the Fuqua Express station, told CNN the thieves broke into the station for three consecutive days last week and got away with $5,000-$6,000 worth of fuel.
They tried for the fourth time on Friday but Thayil ran after them. Surveillance video shows him speeding across the store’s parking lot as a dark-colored minivan pulls away.
“I didn’t want to let them beat us again and lose another $1,200, $1,300,” he said. “So I decided to do something about it and ran out and chased them off.”
The thefts come as US police are warning drivers to take steps to protect their vehicles from potential gasoline theft as fuel prices hit historic highs.
Thayil said he noticed discrepancies in the station’s fuel levels on Wednesday and Thursday.
He scanned the station’s security footage and saw a darkened minivan parked on top of the covers that covered the opening to the station’s tanks on days when the fuel was gone.
Thayil said the van appeared to be fitted with a trapdoor so occupants could get to the tank and pump out the fuel without being seen. They could get away with 300-350 gallons of diesel fuel at a time, he said.
“We’re a family business, so every penny counts here,” he said. “We support 11 employees who work here. They have families of their own, so we don’t want to let them down.”
The Houston Police Department is investigating the incident. A police spokesman told CNN that despite the sky-high prices, there has been no increase in gas thefts.
Thayil said this is the first time his station has dealt with fuel thefts. He said the company is speaking to its insurance company to see if the thefts are covered.
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