What can you put into Gas to screw up an engine?

[beckmrk04]

I agree, and I have a handy dandy law degree too. Unless the OP puts a pretty blue bow on the container with the thief's name on a big attached tag in open sight for him to see from the street, how in the world can the OP "intend" for him to steal the gas? The thief is the one with/without intent to steal, not the OP. The intent is completely on his side and within his power. A homeowner can put milk and honey or homemade wine in their gas cans if they wish. They are under no obligation to keep them under lock and key in an underground bunker, safe from roaming thieves. (I would never keep a filled gas can in a garage, as some have suggested, if it happened to be attached.)


A thief assumes the risk once he purloins whatever is in that gas can. Tough luck. Granted, sugar would be a tough sell, but water or diesel? The OP will be safe from any accusation. I can't remember if the OP said she was from LA, but I think so. If that's the case, as a neighboring Texan, I assure you that a jury would NEVER convict the OP, if by some fluke the DA managed to get an indictment. NEVER. She just might get a medal.

What is the OP's intent? I'd say to fill up a gas can with diesel or to leave the cap off carelessly and let water get in.....slacker that she is. And there is no law against that. It is impossible for the OP to intend for the teenager to steal. She cannot form that intent.

This isn't CSI. It's real life. In real life LA, there would be no charges against the OP, let alone an indictment or trial.

Thank you, thank you. I was seriously wondering how anyone could "intend" for something to be stolen AGAIN. I don't have a law degree, and I really don't think we all need one to figure this one out!

It is absolutely obnoxious to even THINK that the kid would have the gall to try to sue someone for ruining his car with gasoline that he STOLE from them!!!! Talk about "entitlement issues"!!!

*I should be able to steal gasoline from anywhere and have it be perfectly safe for my car and unaltered in any way.*

OBNOXIOUS. ALthough, I wouldn't be surprised. And I wouldn't be surprised that someone would actually try to prosecute the OP for trying to teach the punk a lesson. There is so little personal responsibility left in the world. It's always someone else's fault.

Personally, my guess is that when the watered-down gasoline or diesel ruined his car, he just might actually learn some sort of lesson, even if that lesson is "Don't steal gasoline from that garage anymore" or "Buy a bike."

*sigh* ANd now it's a bad idea because we've all been publicly discussing it. But, I hope thinking about it is at least making you feel a little better, OP.

 

[Aisling]

Just wondering...

If someone breaks into my house and gets bitten by my guard dog, can the bitten-up trespasser sue me for his injuries?

If someone comes onto my property, steals my can of what he thinks is gasoline and it ruins his car, can he sue me?

What's the difference?

I can see the thief telling the judge, "she misled me into thinking it was gasoline because it was a gas can."

And the judge throwing the book at me, "madam, the law says you have to properly and correctly label your stealable items!"

 

[jcsbama]

My guess is that your house is probably not the only one in the neighborhood with gas cans disappearing as a result of this punk and his friends. My other concern is that he has been to your house a couple of times already and knows what he can get on the outside, with you being home. He seems to like your house, and since he's "around the corner", I would be afraid that he would break inside if he ever saw me leaving. In his mind, he's gotten about $20 so far without ever setting foot inside, how much could he get by actually breaking in?

If he's only after gas and the cans are no longer outside, he will know they are inside and might use that as a "reason" to break in, especially when no one is home.

I would definitely inform the police of this matter. You never know, there could already be several reports of this guy, but there haven't been any leads because they drive away so fast. Even if the police do not do anything to the kid, they still need to know.

 

[beckmrk04]

Just wondering...

If someone breaks into my house and gets bitten by my guard dog, can the bitten-up trespasser sue me for his injuries?

If someone comes onto my property, steals my can of what he thinks is gasoline and it ruins his car, can he sue me?

What's the difference?

I can see the thief telling the judge, "she misled me into thinking it was gasoline because it was a gas can."

And the judge throwing the book at me, "madam, the law says you have to properly and correctly label your stealable items!"

Oh, yeah. I see your point! And the fact of the matter is- I don't think that either one should be held liable, and the fact that there is even a precedent makes me so angry.

Criminals should have to face up to the consequences of their actions. If that means that a robber gets attacked by my dog, so be it. That's 1/2 the reason I have my dog anyway.

If that means a punk kid ruins his engine with stolen gasoline, OH WELL. Too bad for punk kid- STOP STEALING.

Seriously- it's the entitlement of it that just burns me up.

*I should be able to tresspass to commit a crime without fear of being bitten by a dog*

*I should be able to order a hot cup of coffee and then sue you when I spill it on myself because the cup didn't say "hot" on it and who would have guessed that COFFEE IS HOT?*

*I should be able to steal gasoline and have it be perfectly useable and unaltered*

 

[n2dzny]

I don't see how they would get into trouble....it is THEIR gas can....If they wanted to fill it up with cooking oil they could!! It is not their fault that it is being stolen and used for someones car!!

That is exactly what I was about to say....
If I buy a gas can and store it at MY house, I can put whatever I want in it. If somebody is stupid enough to steal my gas can without knowing 100% that it is gas, it's their own fault.

I would put enough gas in it so that the theif don't know that it is contaminated until he is stranded on the side of the road

 

[Chipmunk89]

But, If it were me, I would video tape the kid and have him arrested myself.

ITA! And that's very rare that I agree with MM.

Videotape him in the act and let the police handle it.

Videotape it and post it on youtube for all of us to see!!

Shelby

And don't forget to add a link for us.

I can understand wanting revenge, but to actually do it is just wrong. Put your gas can where no one can steal it. This thread needs to be closed.

Why? No one has been rude or snarky with each other. Just a discussion about vandalism. What's the harm in that?

well, we have learned one thing at least...

When planning dastardly deeds, make sure no one knows!!!

Mikeeee

You didn't see anything.

 

[KAMLEM]

Just wondering...

If someone breaks into my house and gets bitten by my guard dog, can the bitten-up trespasser sue me for his injuries?

If someone comes onto my property, steals my can of what he thinks is gasoline and it ruins his car, can he sue me?

Maybe I have watched too many court shows, but from what I have seen, the thief has "unclean hands" and a judge would not reward him for getting hurt while committing a crime.

 

[manning]

Very simple solution...remove the can and you remove his reason to come back!!!!!!

 

[In a hurry]

Very simple solution...remove the can and you remove his reason to come back!!!!!!

Of course, because it is really the homeowners fault.

 

[Quiksilvr]

I agree, and I have a handy dandy law degree too. Unless the OP puts a pretty blue bow on the container with the thief's name on a big attached tag in open sight for him to see from the street, how in the world can the OP "intend" for him to steal the gas? The thief is the one with/without intent to steal, not the OP. The intent is completely on his side and within his power. A homeowner can put milk and honey or homemade wine in their gas cans if they wish. They are under no obligation to keep them under lock and key in an underground bunker, safe from roaming thieves. (I would never keep a filled gas can in a garage, as some have suggested, if it happened to be attached.)


A thief assumes the risk once he purloins whatever is in that gas can. Tough luck. Granted, sugar would be a tough sell, but water or diesel? The OP will be safe from any accusation. I can't remember if the OP said she was from LA, but I think so. If that's the case, as a neighboring Texan, I assure you that a jury would NEVER convict the OP, if by some fluke the DA managed to get an indictment.

After letting this simmer since yesterday I had written a response that analyzes this situation from a 1L legal perspective to show that you could clearly make a case for, at the very least, criminal mischief assuming that the actor used sugar as the additive. I agree that diesel or water makes the case almost impossible to prove. Anyway, I realize that it wouldn't really do any good to get in an argument over this. All I'll say is that if you have a law degree and you managed to pull anything but Bs in your 1L classes you should know that the intent issue for the OP does not necessarily turn on the intent of the thief to steal. That is a completely separate issue for a completely separate crime.

Yesterday I likened this to a situation in which you know that someone has been coming into your house or garage and stealing from your alcohol supply. To "teach them a lesson" you take an empty bottle of Jack Daniels and fill it with kerosene. The thief takes the bottle, drinks the kerosene, and winds up dead (maybe in your back yard). Assuming that your actions could be proved and a pattern of prior theft from you could be established, you could be criminally liable. I'm not saying a jury would convict; I'm saying that the elements of a crime could be proved. I am not going to stir this up anymore; it wouldn't do any good. I just hope people realize that teaching people "lessons" is often illegal and there are clear public policy reasons why this sort of self-help is unlawful.

How many crime shows have you watched where the perpetrator, in that final tearful confession, says "I didn't mean for it to happen. I just wanted to teach him a lesson for wronging me" in some fashion (often infidelity or something of that nature). That excuse doesn't go over very well with the guys on Law & Order and it doesn't go over well with most judges, especially when someone gets physically injured. At the end of the show the cops are still leading them out in handcuffs. It's not our job to teach other people lessons even if they need them. I stand by my earlier comment that the OP doesn't need to sink to this level to get satisfaction.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

A homeowner can put milk and honey or homemade wine in their gas cans if they wish.

*yells to dh*
I think I found a new hiding place for the wine, honey!!

 

[DisneyKT]

Even if there were no chance ever that the OP could get caught, why would anyone cause that much damage over a few gallons of gas? The response is completely out of proportion. I would march myself next door, ask for a refund and call the police if the parents aren't cooperative. If the OP saw it, she is a witness and can say so in the police report.

ITA. Call the Police. Or watch him when he takes the gas call the Police or go over there and talk to the parents.

 

[Cindyluwho]

I agree with the posters who suggested videotaping him stealing the can and then sending a copy to the police with his address and definately post it on Youtube!
When I was in high school we lived just up the highway from a Youth Camp/Prison for young men. It was very low security and often in the middle of the night they'd walk out and try to escape. We were one of the few houses on the highway and I found my poor car with the doorhandles messed with and locks ruined more times than I can remember. So, my step-dad hooked up an electric fence box to the car and my problems ended. Heard some yelling and cursing a couple of times hehehehe

 

[Disney Doll]

So, OP, the moral to this whole story is put something in the gas can that could possibly be in there that will still wreak havoc with his car &/or engine.

Such as water or diesel fuel.

It's pretty clear...

OK Things
Diesel fuel
Water

Not OK Things
Sugar
Maple syrup
Honey
Sand

The average person does not tend to store their maple syrup in a gas can. This is not OK.

Having to change where I store my things on my property because I have a lowlife thug scum living down the street...also not OK.

Does anyone actually think that the LA police are even going to give the OP the time of day if he calls and says the nbeighbor kid stole my gas can? I would imagine the LAPD has much bigger fish to fry.

And quiksilver, this..."All I'll say is that if you have a law degree and you managed to pull anything but Bs in your 1L classes you should know that the intent issue for the OP does not necessarily turn on the intent of the thief to steal"....is a snarky comment.

 

[sha_lyn]

A couple of incidents come to mind

The thief who accidentally locked himself in the garage of a house he broke into and had nothing to eat but dog food until the family returned from vacation. He sued and won in civil court

a man that was prosecuted (man slaughter I believe) when his ****y trap killed a burglar at his store.



OP..... why not just lock the can up in your garage, or report the theft to the police?
If you did sabotage the gas and someone was hurt or killed due to your actions, how would you feel? Even if no one ever found out that you sabotaged the gas can, you would know that your actions led to injury or death.

 

[kangareaux]

The link someone supplied earlier that says why the sugar doesn't work- had another link attached from the car guys that said the best joke to do is to sprinkle sugar on the ground near a car and leave an empty sugar bag on the ground not far from it... they said that way you don't do anything but litter a little bit but the person would assume the gas tank had been filled with sugar.

I thought that was funny.

Wouldn't work here- although I suppose we should label our gas as diesel or "contains water" so they leave it alone.

I do not know the actual kid- just that I've seen the same truck at the house around the corner- so no way to talk to parents are or anything.

But it is frustrating that our legal system works the way it does. Actually I wouldn't be surprised if the gas that was stolen had water in it. The can was left open with spout out- from when my husband didn't put it up this weekend. And when the can got stolen- it was raining horribly- I'm talking more than 3 inches in an hour- the kid had to "Swim" up our driveway. It is probably a strong bet that it did have some rain water in it.

Oh-in Louisiana- you can shoot a robber in your house or place of business- they don't have to be threatening you other than being inside unlawfully. the threat is assumed. Why do I know this? A friends dad got wind that his shop was going to get robbed. He called the cops and asked them to do something. They said they couldn't do anything until it happened. He said fine- he'd call them when they broke in. He hid in his shop and waited for them to break in- called the cops and said someone was breaking in- and he had a gun- the cops said, "make sure they are all the way in before you shoot them and we are on the way- don't shoot us." He shot the intruders in the shop and the cops cleaned up the mess.

I work with a nurse who kept getting her food stolen at a place she worked before. She made brownies with chocolate exlax and then put them into the refrigerator labeled with her name and the date and "Danger- do not eat- contains exlax" Someone ate them... got sick and tried to get her into trouble- she didn't because she labeled them- as such- but her boss said her name alone should have been sufficient labeling to make it off limits to others.

sigh...

LOL! I was going to post that since i saw that you were in Louisiana that a conviction for ruining the car really wasn't likely! Ya sorta beat me to it!

Hi neighbor!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

In order for the kid to prove his car was damaged by the OP, he will have to admit to theft, which he would be prosecuted for. I really don't think (even if he knows he got bad gas from the OP) he is going to risk his own freedom over going after the OP. I don't think I would be admitting to anything, I would just quietly have my car fixed and hopefully have learned a good lesson.

 

[ihearttink]

Why? No one has been rude or snarky with each other. Just a discussion about vandalism. What's the harm in that? QUOTE]


The reason this thread bothers me is because it may put the idea in someone's head, who may only be reading this thread, who is not so nice, like this kid who stole the gas can, think hey I don't like so and so, let me go put ... in their gas tank. It's not because anyone was rude or snarky.

I agree that people should be able to put stuff on their property where they want, but lets face it people steal . If someone stole something from me that I could store inside, the first thing I would do is store it inside and then call the police.

 

[mum4jenn]

OP....I would go for the Diesel. Forget all the "legal" junk!!

 

[Jenvenza]

Wow - So you would screw up the parent's car - and possibly ruin it for good, because this kid stole some gas? Now, how is that getting back at him? Seems even more immature than the kid that stole the gas to me.