Nearly 400 gallons of gas allegedly stolen from North Carolina gas station

This week, nearly 400 gallons of gas were stolen from a North Carolina gas station.

The situation has prompted the owner of the gas station to take extra security measures.

North Carolina gas station owner Hardik Patel has said he will start shutting off power to his pumps after business hours (CNN). Patel owns the Bizzy Bee Grocery Store and Gas Station in High Point, North Carolina. His surveillance footage showed a car pull up to the pumps and use a device to bypass the payment system.

After the payment system was successfully bypassed, more than 15 cars pulled up to the pump and filled their tanks over the course of almost an hour. The amount of gas stolen totaled about $1,600.

The theft comes as gas prices continue to reach record highs. On Monday, the national average reached $4.33 a gallon. The previous record high was $4.11 a gallon in July 2008 (The Hill).

Several people called the police to report that several cars had gone to the gas station after hours. “I’ve been in business for 15 years and owned other gas stations. I have never seen something like this. It wasn’t free, they were stealing,” Patel said.