HINSDALE, Ill. – Even though gasoline prices continue to reach record highs, fewer consumers in Hinsdale, Illinois, are resorting to gasoline theft, reports Hinsdale Suburban Life.

Last fall, the Hinsdale Mobil was hit 15 times between August and October by customers who drove off without paying. The increased theft prompted management to install five security cameras both inside and outside of the store to thwart fuel thieves.

Additionally, a Shell station located in close proximity to the Tri-State Tollway also experienced numerous drive-offs. To help stop fuel theft, the station converted six of its 16 pumps to prepay. Although the station reported five gasoline thefts in December, it’s a significant decrease.

“Our drive-offs are 10 percent of what they were over the summer because now the pumps you would drive away from you can’t,” station owner John Archer told the newspaper.

Hinsdale Deputy Police Chief Mark Wodka commented that some of the drive-offs weren’t intentional. For example, some of the cases investigated by authorities found computer failure or that the prepayment option did not go through, writes the newspaper.

“The best thing gas stations can do to prevent this crime is ensure pre-payment of the gasoline before the gas pump actually turns on,” Wodka said, adding, “And any cases where it’s questionable, ask the clerks to be good witnesses and get licenses while they’re still pumping the gas.”