Gasoline thefts spur Dawson station manager to take action

DAWSON CITY - Folks fuelling up their vehicles at Dominion Shell in downtown Dawson are looking at another new reality of the high price of gasoline.

Photo by Dan Davidson

WARNING TO DRIVERS - You have to have your credit card or driver's licence handy to buy gasoline at Dominion Shell in Dawson City these days.

DAWSON CITY - Folks fuelling up their vehicles at Dominion Shell in downtown Dawson are looking at another new reality of the high price of gasoline.

Faced with a rash of “gas and go” customers over the last month, manager Boyd Gillis has been forced to implement a new payment regime.

The sign on the pump says, “No fuel will be dispensed until you leave a credit card or driver’s licence with the attendant. Thank you.”

The sign went up last week.

“There are too many people driving away and not paying,” Gillis said on Monday.

“One load alone recently was $200, It’s pretty significant if we keep allowing this.”

Gillis said some of the problem is home-grown.

“We’re pretty sure that some of them are locals who have gone and done it, but we haven’t been able to prove it, so finally, this last go-round, I just said that was it.”

Gillis pointed to British Columbia, where paying in advance has become the standard policy. That followed the dragging death of a young service station attendant pursuing a vehicle whose driver was pulling away without having paid for his gas.

“Most of the out-of-town travellers accept it,” Gillis said. “It’s automatic.

“It’s just the locals that seem to be taken aback by it. They’ll get used to it. It’s a lttle bit of an inconvenience, but I just can’t afford to have people fill up and drive away.”

Gillis would like to have the sort of pumps that require a customer to insert a credit card before gassing up, but he hasn’t had any response to his requests to North 60 Petroleum, which owns the station.

“I decided that rather than wait around, I’d do this,” Gillis said.

CommentsAdd a comment

Alex Sajak

Jul 23, 2008 at 8:21 am

Wow
BOOHOO. Poor gas stations. This is a response to high prices, they say get used to high gas prices, well get used to gas n dash, Action comes reaction, remember its just “business”. You actually think this silly pay before you go is going to last? What happens when the price gets to high and actually get customers walking in and turning the pump on themselves. I defiently can see that.
I know the whole story its not the gas stations fault, but the sad thing is, regular people cant push around oil CEOs, so the next best thing is gas station owners, since gas station owners have NO PROBLEM raising prices in accordance with oil, the SAME DAY. But when it drops 10 dollars a barrel, its the old “you wont see prices drop in about 6 months”.
Dont anger the population, there is more of us and are getting sick of the energy crisis in our energy rich nation.

Jul 23, 2008 at 8:43 pm

You are an idiot Alex.

Jul 24, 2008 at 9:20 am

Alex.... *sigh*

You’re silly.

Pay before you pump is the norm down south… Nearly every gas station down south requires you to actually pay AT the pump by debit or credit card… or, going in, and paying @ the till…

I agree with you that high gas prices suck.. but, it’s not the fault of the station owners… they are simply business people trying to make a buck in this world.. like you & every other person who has financial responsibilities & mouths to feed…

Perhaps the argument should be about why they aren’t focusing more time & energy on finding a new/more improved type of fuel/energy… IE: What ever happened to the electric car? Why aren’t more people converting their vehicles engines to run off used vegetable oil? Why aren’t we doing more with ethenol?

Francais Pillman

Jul 24, 2008 at 12:56 pm

“You are an idiot alex”

Wow, what an insightfull comment. I agree with Alex. You cowards are to scared to stand up to these THIEFS we call oil companys, but when some no name guy goes and gets a little peice, its 100% outrage. Look in the mirror JT, to scared to use your name I see.

Blah blah blah

Hey BT, go get educated please. The first FORD cars on the road were electric. I guess todays PROFITS are getting in the way of ANOTHER source. *rolls eyes*

Wake up, turn off the TV. Because what ALEX said is 100% truth, and you cowards run from it like its an STD. Don’t worry though, if you find yourself all scared and confused from this STD, just dial 811, the Yukons new health line.

Jul 25, 2008 at 11:20 pm

You are also an idiot. If you think stealing is okay go down to the local grocery store. Steal a cart full of merchandise and see how far that gets you.

If I’m confused about the fact it’s not okay to steal from businesses (even gas stations) I should call 811? Maybe somebody needs to tell you what that line is for again.

If you want to talk about education might I suggest spelling words correctly and not using the phrase “blah blah blah”

You might want to read BT’s comments again. He/She wrote “Whatever happened to the electric car” You wrote that “BT needs to get educated because Ford used to have electric cars.” Again, you might not want to talk about an education when you don’t have one.

You felt the need to grace us with your opinion. Don’t do it again.

Francias Pillman

Jul 28, 2008 at 9:14 pm

Oh please. Grammer Natzi. Typical response, with nothing revelant brought to the converstaion. In your twisted little world you are supporting OIL COMPANYS, exactly what I said above. Go back to watching CNN, the most trusted name in news. And my little joke about 811, was that, a JOKE. You support an enity that takes food out of peoples mouths, kids mouths, do you want a map. We are one of the biggest oil producers in the world, what part of that don’t you underdstand. Its cowards like you how call people who steal from “THIEFS”, criminals, you make zero sense. We had electric cars a hundred years ago, as buddy said, where did they go? They went away because of cowards like you who sit there and say “WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT”. A mass theft of gas is what these criminals need to wake them up.

Alex Sajak

Jul 30, 2008 at 11:49 am

Vegatable oil and ethanol. Hopes and dreams placed on these products. How many rainforests needs to be cut down to feed these products, too much, do your research on that and you would be baffled about how much land needs to be used, water used, all our arable land will be used and food prices through the roof.

As for JT, I dont know how your post got on here, as it needs to be THOUGHTFUL AND RESPONSIBLE.

What does grocery stores have to do with prices? Oh, its a comparision, jeez, what a poor one to boot too. When people cant feed themselves, THEY ARE GOING TO STEAL IT, get over it, food like gas is a staple in our society.

Again, it proves your understanding of the situation, let me repeat it for you. When I steal from a business its a crime, when a business does unjust gouging, it is BUSINESS. Well, wake up and smell the benzene, stealing is a
business, but its your kind of attitude that sllows business’ to continue their stealing “ways” and even rationalize it for them.

Seems your so hung up on education, well get busy reading. Ford did have a electric car, first models, for women, research it and read the ads, do your homework before you prance around with meaningless comments.

These is an energy rich nation, very rich in energy, yet we pay like we need energy. Alberta pumps more then enough oil for our needs, yet it all goes to the US, thats fair, thats capitilism, but when this nation fails to take care of our needs, it becomes a problem. Yes, gas station owners are trying to make a buck, but we want to save our bucks, but its already been proven, ie quebec, that gas station owners are in cahoots as they raise prices all togther. Gas station owners care more about their bottom line then people starving, so dont come to me about poor poor gas station owners, if they cared they would be on the front lines to the oil CEOs and refiners, but obviosly they dont because when oil goes up $5 a barrell, they are basically RUNNING OUTSIDE to up the prices, yet its the same gas they got 2 weeks ago at a way cheaper price, but when it goes down, its the 6month overhaul BS again.

So JT, all your so called opinions have been refuted, come back when you actually have something more meaningfull to say.

Jul 31, 2008 at 9:17 am

OMG you two are annoying.

Instead of debasing other peoples thoughts and opinions, and carrying on with nonsense high school banter, why not come up with healthy suggestions or comments relative to the subject at hand.

When I spoke of the electric car, I was asking the question: Where the hell did it go? Go check out the documentary, funny enough titled, “What happened to the Electric car?” Interesting information provided to all who are “Un-educated” about the death of that venture....

In closing, I’ll leave you two with something I’m sure everyone’s mother always told them.

“If you have nothing nice to say, keep your mouth shut.”

Samson Hartland

Jul 31, 2008 at 1:53 pm

Some of the above comments lead me to think of a solution to some situations Canadians face at the pumps and in the race to map out the Arctic Seabed.

Canada needs a Canadian Energy Strategy that places public interest above market based conditions.

A national strategy must give Canadians security of their energy supplies, guaranteed access to energy reserves in times of need, and strong policies that protect our environment.

It must recognize the need to move beyond the booms and busts of market-based energy policies, and to invest in and prioritize renewable energy resource while transitioning away from reliance on fossil fuels.

One needs only look at Norway for sensible, leading edge energy policies that place the public interest above all else.