Jackson Free Press

Gas prices at the pumps hit an all-time high last week, but even before the price whacked $2.46, some gas station workers said theft was already on the rise.

"Before we went to the pre-pay policy, there were at least two drive-offs every week," said Charlotte Talent, manager of the Conoco station on State Street downtown. Talent said losses averaged $30 to $40 a theft. "Four weeks ago we had to start the new policy, because when gas went up to $2 a gallon, it got too bad. I mostly work day shift, so I didn't see the worst of it."

"Get used to it," said former gas station owner Eugene Jones, who said drive-offs had been a huge problem at his station on Fortification Street before he sold the business.

"They just got worse and worse. I didn't remember stealing being such a problem until these last few months. Then it just got crazy," Jones said. "I bet it ain't going to get any better until these prices come down."

With costs steadily rising from $1.50 last year to more than $3 in some parts of the country, the trend doesn't look like it's bucking any time soon. It doesn't help matters that organizations like the International Energy Agency in Paris estimate world oil demand to grow this year by 1.6 million barrels to 83.7 million barrels a day.

High demand and rising prices may be spreading theft beyond the problems of gas station attendants. Jackson Police Department investigations revealed that some city employees were also ducking costs using city tax money.

"We have known that there were some employees that have been misusing city gas cards and have been placing gas either in personal containers or cars or vehicles," said Tim Corbitt, a detective in JPD's Internal Affairs Department.

Corbitt said an investigation that began during the last administration recently netted city employees engaging in suspicious fill-ups.

"We went through operations a few weeks ago where we did some stake-outs and basically took pictures of a lot of questionable-looking activity," Corbitt said. "We're verifying that. Most of the stories have checked out, but we have made two arrests of city employees and a warrant is outstanding for a third who has resigned and left."

Willie Stapleton and Larry Washington were arrested earlier this month. Internal Affairs Lt. Chuck Lee said he would not name the third suspect, saying he would release the name only upon the suspect's arrest.

Washington and Stapleton were caught filling their cars with city gas cards. City vehicles feature Fuel Man gas cards, allowing workers to fill up without emptying their personal wallets. It has to be a city vehicle getting the gas, however, and Corbitt warned that future gas purchases by employees with city funds will be more thoroughly scrutinized.

Assistant Police Chief Roy Sandefer said at a recent City Council meeting that theft could not be tolerated with gas costs so high, adding that the city would be working harder to watch the matter.

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton also alleged at a recent COPS meeting in Fondren that "a third" of city cars were being "illegally driven." His administration would not comment further on the topic.

COPS mediator Bob Oertel said he had heard Melton mention the illegally driven cars and said he'd assumed city employees were using the vehicles off hours.

Calls to the city's internal audit division for more details were referred back to the mayor's office, which would not provide further details on the accusation.

Previous Comments

ID

64709

Comment

Hey Adam, when is your next article, "Robbed by the pump," coming out? Perhaps the next issue.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2005-08-18T13:17:02-06:00