STANWOOD, Wash. — Gas thieves are repeatedly targeting the YMCA of Snohomish County.
On Easter Sunday, thieves were caught on camera stealing gasoline from one of the nonprofit’s vans. Only this time, the criminals drilled a hole in the bottom of the tank, instead of syphoning the gas.
Drilling the tank cost thousands of dollars in damage to the van, explained Scott Washburn, the President of the YMCA of Snohomish County.
"It's very frustrating because they probably don't even understand or realize the hassle and the damage that it causes," he said.
Surveillance videos show a male and a female suspect underneath the car at separate times. It appears they drained the gasoline into a container, which they sloppily pour into a plastic bucket. Washburn says it's a senseless, petty crime that's not worth the consequences.
"In the process of stealing a couple dollars’ worth of gas, they actually caused about $2,000 dollars in damage to the bus itself," he said.
The criminals likely drilled a hole because they could no longer syphon the gasoline, according to Washburn. This is the third time gas thieves have hit Snohomish County's YMCA, so the staff was prepared.
"We had taken some steps to alleviate the problem by putting a locking mechanism on the gas cap but unfortunately, they decided to drill through the gas tank itself," Washburn said.
While stealing gasoline may be considered a petty crime, the non-profit says repeated incidents are adding up. Vans at other YMCA locations are being targeted, too.
"At one of our other branches, we've actually had to construct a gated fenced area for our buses," Washburn explained. He says a fence may be the next best option to protect Snohomish County vans.
Stanwood Police told KIRO 7 they have identified the suspects but have not arrested them as of Wednesday evening.
Anyone with information is asked to email the Police Department at Stanwood.Police@snoco.org.
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