Sales of locking gas caps surge

With fuel prices at near-record levels, it's not economical to lose even a single drop of gas. But walking out to the car and finding a full tank drained is a financial shock as well as pretty darn scary.

But it happens. Ask Randy Hitson, manager of O'Reilly Auto Parts in Moncks Corner, which sells locking gas caps.

"I've actually had two people in the last week come in and they had to get one. Someone stole their gas," he said.

Locking caps, which date to the so-called Arab oil embargo of the 1970s, have risen and fallen in popularity based on the price of fuel. They languished on shelves during times of cheap gas.

But the caps, which typically come with a key, returned to popularity in the price surge after Hurricane Katrina in late summer 2005. And they've again caught on as prices began gradually climbing since early this year.

"I've sold a lot more (lately)," said Alvin Arroyo at O'Reilly Auto Parts in Goose Creek.

The caps sell for $10.99-$19.99. Arroyo said he hasn't seen much change recently in the prices of the locking caps.

Still, at least one local car enthusiast who bought a locking cap in the past month said prices are up about 50 percent, from $10 before to $15 now. Even then, the savings are huge compared with the $50 or more lost from a tank of siphoned fuel.

Hitson, who thinks the locking caps work well and hasn't heard of any malfunctions, said he's seen demand double for the caps as prices climbed Wednesday to a record $3.87 a gallon for regular gas in the Charleston area before retreating slightly Thursday.

Some of the buyers, Hitson said, own older cars that didn't have any protection, where vandals can open the cover by hand and unscrew the cap. But he said maybe half of the purchasers own newer vehicles, even though they may have protections such as a switch inside to open the covering, that will at least deter thieves. But new car owners also are more worried about losing fuel since they are more likely to keep their vehicles for a while, he said.

"We do have a lot more people buying them," Hitson said.

Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com.