back to article Cops suspect Detroit fuel station was hacked before 10 drivers made off with 2.3k 'free' litres

Police suspect that high-tech thieves may have hacked into a Detroit petrol station before stealing about 600 US gallons (+-2,300 litres) of fuel. Fox News affiliate WJBK reported that the clerk was unable to shut off a pump that dispensed free fuel for 90 minutes. Ten vehicles took advantage of the security hole to fuel up …

    1. pavel.petrman

      Re: Outrageous!

      Well, I would guess one doesn't pay taxes on goods that weren't sold, so the damages are in buying prices (before the IRS states that their damage is twice as much in "goods stolen pre-tax").

  1. Hans Neeson-Bumpsadese Silver badge

    Pumping Hack Flash

    It's a gas, gas, gas

    1. GnuTzu
      Mushroom

      Re: Pumping Hack Flash

      And (voted up):

      "A six-foot long drillbit and a pump with a hose would've got way more.""

      Watch out for sparking, 'cause then it will flash--explosively.

      1. jake Silver badge

        Re: Pumping Hack Flash

        Nah. Might burn, though. Exploding gas/petrol stations are few and far between, outside Hollywood. The stoichiometric ratio for proper explosions rarely occurs in the wild.

        1. My other car WAS an IAV Stryker
          FAIL

          Re: Pumping Hack Flash

          jake: "The stoichiometric ratio for proper explosions rarely occurs in the wild."

          As demonstrated by "Mythbusters" -- trying to get a gas tank to explode was hard work. Like you also said, it ended with more flame and less boom.

          1. Hans Neeson-Bumpsadese Silver badge

            Re: Pumping Hack Flash

            As demonstrated by "Mythbusters" -- trying to get a gas tank to explode was hard work. Like you also said, it ended with more flame and less boom.

            And, IIRC, fewer eyebrows at the end of the experiment than at the start

            1. jake Silver badge

              Re: Pumping Hack Flash

              Wasn't fewer eyebrows in Adam's contract?

        2. John Crisp

          Re: Pumping Hack Flash

          Indeed. My firefighting training for being at sea taught me empty things usually made bigger bangs than full things.

          Some scary videos to illustrate the fact.

          Always felt more comfortable with 30,000 tonnes of petrol and diesel than without :-)

          Tank inspections were not fun...

        3. WolfFan Silver badge

          Re: Pumping Hack Flash

          Nah. Might burn, though. Exploding gas/petrol stations are few and far between, outside Hollywood. The stoichiometric ratio for proper explosions rarely occurs in the wild.

          Heh. When the Japanese invaded the Dutch East Indies in 1942 (the whole reason for the little visit to Hawaii being to clear the flanks so that Japan could get oil, FDR having cut their oil supply off) the Dutch tried to destroy assorted oil refineries, tank farms, etc., only to find that they wouldn't blow up despite the use of explosives. Some of them wouldn't even burn after someone tossed a few grenades into a tank... Of course it didn't help that the tank farm in question was under assault by paratroops of the Japanese Special Naval Landing Force at the time, and things were rather hurried. Someone had neglected to plan properly, and it wasn't Japan.

  2. Jon 37

    What about switching the pump off?

    Petrol stations in the UK have a firemans's switch that allows the fire brigade to shut off power to all the pumps. This will very effectively stop people from using a faulty pump - although it would also stop people from using the other pumps. I presume the US petrol stations have them too, since they're clearly a sensible idea.

    Alternatively, an employee could go stand in front of the pump, or call the police to get them to come stand by the pump.

    But I expect the petrol station was being run by a minimum-wage employee who was trained to do things by the book, and there wasn't a procedure for this. Management chose to limit it's employees initiative, management can take the loss.

    1. GnuTzu

      Re: What about switching the pump off?

      Here in the states, yes. Often a big red kill switch button. Found a training video on YouTube. I'm surprised we don't hear stories of pranksters smacking these.

    2. Velv
      Holmes

      Re: What about switching the pump off?

      Pumps in the UK have physical locks to secure the handle into the holder, or at the very least holes for padlocks.

      Call me cynical, but when they track down the 10 "customers" who got free gas I'm predicting they all know the station attendant in some capacity.

      1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

        Re: What about switching the pump off?

        Pumps in the UK have physical locks to secure the handle into the holder

        In case of fire write to the address below to and we will respond within 28 days

        1. jake Silver badge

          Re: What about switching the pump off?

          Yes, all petrol/gas stations in the US are required, by law, to have a master cut-off switch that anybody can operate to disable all pumps. It's one of the first things that new employees are shown.

          Strangely, I've never heard of "pranksters" tripping these switches, any more than they trip mains breakers. Not sure why ... other than the fact that the miscreants know that retribution would be swift, with long-lasting bruising. Stupidity should hurt.

          1. Prst. V.Jeltz Silver badge

            Re: What about switching the pump off?

            " I've never heard of "pranksters" tripping these switches"

            I've seen kids operate the emergency door open button on a bus , and then chuck snowballs in .

            1. jake Silver badge
              Pint

              Re: What about switching the pump off?

              And I've seen kids hit every button on an elevator (lift) and get out on the first stop ... but that has nothing to do with the subject at hand, Mr. V.Jeltz, now does it? (Other than the "quick getaway from people unwilling to leave the transport before their stop" aspect, of course ... which they don't have when tripping mains breakers or pump cut-offs. Which probably answers my question. Ta! Beer?)

      2. Pascal Monett Silver badge
        Coat

        Re: I'm predicting they all know the station attendant in some capacity

        You mean like, they've already been to that station a few times ?

    3. Tom 35

      Re: What about switching the pump off?

      He was probably on hold waiting for permission to push the button.

    4. mrobaer

      Re: What about switching the pump off?

      According to the FOX article, this took place around 1pm. That's a rather hectic time for fuel stations in my area, and we're not anywhere close to a major city. I don't know what it looks like from the clerks' point of view when customers are fueling, but it's not uncommon to have a steady flow of vehicles getting fuel, sometimes even waiting in line for it. I'd wager that several vehicles received the fuel before it was noticed, especially if there were people at the counter making purchases (distracting the clerk).

      Your last point is very accurate. This poor lad was probably thinking of the ass chewing he'd get for turning off ALL the pumps and losing those profits, so was just focused on trying to turn off the problematic pump.

  3. mevets

    Smaller in the US.

    Merkin gallons are 3.78 litres, thus 2260 litres, not 2700.

    1. Adam 1

      Re: Smaller in the US.

      Even at 2260 it doesn't sound right.

      For 10 drivers, that's an average of 226L. My car has a 60L tank and it is, depending on how you define these terms, a giant SUV (right pondian) or a city car (left pondian). That is fairly typical size. The average is almost 4 tankfulls. Something isn't adding up.

  4. dmacleo

    god forbid clerk block the pump off and lock the handle.

    course that would involve walking outside alone in detroit....

    1. Captain Scarlet Silver badge

      Maybe they remotely locked the doors and broke the Tanoy as well?

      1. jake Silver badge

        Note to my fellow Yanks ...

        ... "Tannoy" (note proper spleling) is a trademark for a particular brand of Public Address system, and is used as a Generic in the UK ... Why they don't use the more descriptive "PA" that the rest of the world uses is an accident of history, and one of those tannoying things that make British English speakers feel so superior to the rest of the planet. Just allow them the indulgence, pass it off as Yet Another British Language Eccentricity, and move on. It's easier that way.

        1. Gene Cash Silver badge

          Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

          > Note to my fellow Yanks ...

          "bing-bong. Brimish Rull regret that mumble maz bem dermumble a mir mumble mumble bimble late. Passengers mizzing to mumble rimble mumble are advised to momble mar at murmble. Thank you mor mumble mimbling Brimble mum. bing-bong."

          1. jake Silver badge

            Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

            But Gene, you can make up the time by taking a cab to St. Pancreas. Everybody knows that!

            1. NoOnions

              Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

              "Pancreas" :-)

              1. jake Silver badge
                Pint

                Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

                I know, I know. For some reason my fingers always make that typo ... and my eyes don't catch it when proofreading. Maybe I should type "Pancras" 1,000 times to burn it into my nervous system.

                Mea culpa. I'm only human. Beer?

        2. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

          Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

          First can we discuss the topic of describing a liquid fuel as gas?

          1. kain preacher

            Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

            it's short for gasoline. But you knew that already

            1. Prst. V.Jeltz Silver badge

              Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

              "it's short for gasoline. But you knew that already"

              Yeah we knew that, but that makes it only slightly less wrong, its still ..... gassy .

              1. jake Silver badge

                Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

                But Mr. V.Jeltz, you DO know that the word "Gasoline" was invented in the British Isles, don't you? At least according to the Big Dic[0] ... See here.

                [0] OED

          2. jake Silver badge

            Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

            It's gasoline, or gas for short. Has nothing to do with a state of matter. But you knew that.

        3. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

          Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

          "Why they don't use the more descriptive "PA" that the rest of the world uses"

          It's the same all over the world, certain brand names become so successful the brand become synonymous with the product type, even if it's actually another brand. Durex in Australia, Scotch Tape in the US, Sellotape in the UK, all the same product (and can cause confusion for Aussies in the UK and vice versa when asking for Durex in the wrong shop for he wrong reasons!)

          1. Adam 1

            Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

            All I can say is that if your in Australia and the Mrs tells you to grab a Durex, she's not going to be impressed if you return with a roll of sellotape.

        4. gotes

          Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

          I'm British, and it (T)annoys the hell out of me when people use the name Tannoy when they mean PA.

          Mind you, I do say "Velcro" instead of "Hook-and-loop fastener".

          1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge
            Coat

            Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

            "I'm British, and it (T)annoys the hell out of me when people use the name Tannoy when they mean PA."

            But why do you want your Personal Assistant to shout out announcements when you could use a Tannoy instead?

            1. jake Silver badge

              Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

              My Personal Assistant doesn't have time for political correctness. He'll tell you over the Public Address system that he's a secretary.

        5. IsJustabloke
          Stop

          Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

          "pass it off as Yet Another British Language Eccentricity, and move on"

          There's no such language as "British"...The language is called English.

          You may wish to add a signifier indicating which dialect you're speaking but otherwise it's English.

          1. jake Silver badge

            Re: Note to my fellow Yanks ...

            "There's no such language as "British"...The language is called English."

            There is no such language as "British", correct. However, there IS a language spoken by the British. And it has it's eccentricities.

  5. Orv Silver badge

    When I lived in Michigan back in the early 2000s, pay-at-the-pump systems were still relatively new in many places and all the kinks weren't worked out. Someone discovered that a local station's system would unlock the pump for any card, not just a credit card, because it wasn't checking preauthorization properly. Unfortunately for the thieves, many of them chose to use their driver's licenses, and the system captured their license numbers from the mag stripe on the card, making it rather easy to track them down.

    1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

      making it rather easy to track them down.

      Would that actually be a crime?

      If I offer you fake $ bills that is a crime

      But if you ask for a magnetic card and accept me swiping a library card and then give me the goods - didn't we both just enter freely into a contract ?

      1. 404

        > Would that actually be a crime?

        Technically? Probably not, but the public defender for the person busted for this kind of crime, won't use it for a defense lol...

      2. kain preacher

        It's called fraud because no one saw you use the library card This was at the pump. So it's either just theft of theft by fraud. I mean if he actually walked and hand the clerk a library card then I would have to say yes he did nothing wrong(or the clerk is stoned as hell)

        1. Orv Silver badge

          It's theft. You took the fuel, you didn't pay for it. It's pretty simple.

          Moreover, it's almost certainly "Theft of motor vehicle fuel" (750.367c):

          "The secretary of state shall suspend the operator's or chauffeur's license of a person convicted of an offense or attempted offense under this chapter involving the theft of motor vehicle fuel that occurred by pumping the fuel into a motor vehicle..."

          In the case I mentioned the police essentially gave people a choice -- pay for the fuel they took, or be charged with theft and have their license suspended.

    2. John Gamble

      "When I lived in Michigan back in the early 2000s, pay-at-the-pump systems were still relatively new in many places and all the kinks weren't worked out."

      In suburban Detroit? Maybe in the boondockier areas of Michigan where an independently-owned station can still make a go of it, but in the Detroit area you're going to fuel up in a major oil company's station, which in my experience converted in the 1990s.

      1. Orv Silver badge

        This was in Ann Arbor, IIRC.

        The systems weren't *new* new exactly, but they were new enough that a lot of them were installed without thinking through possible exploits.

      2. Prst. V.Jeltz Silver badge

        pay at pump

        "Detroit area you're going to fuel up in a major oil company's station, which in my experience converted in the 1990s."

        In a lotta ways the US is so far ahead of us

        In the 70s they had telephone systems we could only dream of - answer machines , party calls , on hold buttons... All we had was pulse dialling or Doris at the exchange patching wires.

        ...And now we still dont have pay at the pump! we have to queue twice for no goddam reason at all.

        (ok we do have it here and there - a couple of the pumps at my local morrisons, which last time I tried it , wouldnt read my card)

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Few things 600 gallons for 10 cars? That's one huge gas tank. Lastly last time I was inside a gas station it had a big red EPO and a knife switch .

    1. jake Silver badge

      My dually tow rig holds 80 gallons (30 gallon main tank, and two 25 gallon saddle tanks), and I know quite a few people who have similar extended range tanks. Probably not all that common in Detroit, though.

      9 cars at 15 gallons each, and one truck with nine 55 gallon drums?

      9 cars at 20 gallons each, and one big rig with long-range tanks?

      10 cars at 10-20 gallons as a diversion, and one large tanker out back with a pump and a hose into the underground tank?

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