Man dies trying to stop gas theft

[zombie-a-go-go]

FORT PAYNE, Alabama (AP) -- A gas station owner was run over and killed when he tried to stop a driver from leaving without paying for $52 worth of gasoline, police said.

The driver had not been apprehended Sunday, and police Chief David Walker said the case was being investigated as a robbery-homicide.

Witnesses told police that Husain Caddi, owner of Fort Payne Texaco, "grabbed onto the vehicle" Friday when the driver began to drive off.

Caddi was dragged across the parking lot and onto a highway, where he fell to the pavement and was run over by the late model sport utility vehicle's rear wheel, Walker said.

"Other vehicles were leaving the station's lot and there was a great deal of traffic on the roadway near the station at the time," Walker said.

Caddi, 54, later died at a hospital, Walker said.

Police said the driver was in his 20s or 30s.

Gas prices have surged to a nationwide average of $2.55 a gallon.


http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/22/gas....ap/index.html

[KronoRed]

Poor guy

All pumps should go to pre pay

[fielder's choice]

Poor guy

All pumps should go to pre pay

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[RosieRed]

Poor guy

All pumps should go to pre pay

Definitely. With high gas prices, more people are going to drive off. Pre-pay pumps = good, IMO.

[registerthis]

Definitely. With high gas prices, more people are going to drive off. Pre-pay pumps = good, IMO.

Only if you're not using a credit/debit card. I hate having to go "pre-pay" with my credit card. It makes no sense.

[savafan]

Clearly the smart thing to do here would have been to call the police and let them handle it.

[RedsBaron]

Clearly the smart thing to do here would have been to call the police and let them handle it.

Yes. Your life, or even your physical well-being, is worth more than money, although it does bring to mind the old Jack Benny skit:
Robber: Your money or your life.
Benny: I'm thinking, I'm thinking.

[westofyou]

In Oregon you can't pump your own gas.

[KronoRed]

In Oregon you can't pump your own gas.

This goes on the reasons to move west list.

[RFS62]

In Oregon you can't pump your own gas.

New Jersey, too.

[cincinnati chili]

In Oregon you can't pump your own gas.

This is true in most parts of New Jersey. I heard it was a union thing, but maybe it is because of drive-offs.

[westofyou]

This is true in most parts of New Jersey. I heard it was a union thing, but maybe it is because of drive-offs.

Right to work laws, and yes it's only NJ and Oregon.

Here it keeps you dry.

[Johnny Footstool]

Only if you're not using a credit/debit card. I hate having to go "pre-pay" with my credit card. It makes no sense.

Why not? The pump doesn't charge your card until you're finished.

[registerthis]

Why not? The pump doesn't charge your card until you're finished.

No, because you have to walk into the station and guesstimate the amount it's going to take to fill up your car, and then have them charge it.

When they have the credit card terminals at every pump, it makes no sense whatsoever to ask a credit card user to go into the station and pre-pay there. It's a waste of time.

[Johnny Footstool]

No, because you have to walk into the station and guesstimate the amount it's going to take to fill up your car, and then have them charge it.

When they have the credit card terminals at every pump, it makes no sense whatsoever to ask a credit card user to go into the station and pre-pay there. It's a waste of time.

OK, I see what you're talking about. When I think "pre-pay," I think "put your card in the credit card slot at the pump." I never buy gas at places that don't have a credit card terminal at the pump, and I would never buy gas at a place that would require me to "guess" the amount.