Petrol stations deploy anti-theft stingers
Metal spikes 1, 'Drive-aways' 0
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A number of UK petrol station owners have installed a £10,000 anti "drive-away" stinger system designed to discourage ne'er-do-wells from making off with fuel without paying, the Telegraph reports.
The Drivestop was designed by Jaginda Singh, whose family-owned fuel outlet was almost brought to financial ruin by such incidents - increasingly common since the price of petrol has gone through the roof.
The Drivestop package - currently gracing ten forecourts across the land - includes warning signs, audio system and traffic lights to make it absolutely clear to the perp that his tyres are about to be shredded. Should he ignore the portents of imminent deflation, steel spikes rise from the ground and bring him to a halt within 20 seconds.
And if he is able to hobble away on the rims, the system also embeds a tag bearing an ID number into the rubber, allowing cops to later identify the combustible-lifter. The firm insists that the system is completely legal, and that it had consulted all the relevant authorities as it was it was being developed.
The Drivestop appears to offer the required deterrent effect. Mukesh Patel, owner of a petrol station near Finsbury Park, north London, had lost more than £5k in drive-aways before installing the system last month. He said: "More people are attempting it with the high cost of fuel and we have been getting at least one a week. But since the notices about the spikes went up last month, there haven't been any drive-aways."
In fact, only one foolhardy soul has to date taken on the Drivestop - a car thief who managed a post-deflation 100 yards in Eltham, south east London, before abandoning the vehicle. ®
COMMENTS
don't waste it
**The solution is to REDUCE THE COST OF PETROL.**
The solution is to reduce the demand, so stop wasting it. The only way to reduce the *cost* of it is by reducing the cost of obtaining it, which is why some countries decide to invade other countries that have some of it, so that they can simply start sucking the liquid for free.
And, as someone else said, how are you people still not using cards to pay before filling the car? It's easy: say how much you want, insert the card, type in the code, get the fuel; not one drop more. Done.
Forums are now active
Thank you all for your comments, we have now opened our forums at www.drivestop.com, if you have any questions we will do our best to answer them
Why the fuss?
If you are accidentally failing to pay for your petrol and you end up with four f*cked tyres then so what. Take the forecourt owners to court and see where that gets you. They will have proof that you didn't pay, you will only have your word that you forgot. It might make you remember next time.
If you are walking over the top of said device when it activates, having ignored all the warning signs that they will have been required to place, then more fool you. You'll only do that once! Take the forecourt owners to court and see where that gets you.
If you are a car thief ,or similar, with no intention of paying then you won't get very far. The car owner will get their car back with a full tank of fuel, the insurance will (probably) buy some new tyres and the forecourt owners will get some free publicity, dissuading any further miscreants from attempting a drive off.
It is a win win situation if you ask me.
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