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TO: Cmmdr Bergeron <br />FROM: Lt. Dan Votel <br />Date: July 27, 1990 <br />RE: Gas Station Drive -off Policy <br />RECOMMENDATI ON <br />I am requesting adaption of the attached policy regarding <br />Gas Station Drive -offs, report taking and investigative <br />requirements. <br />PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION <br />It has been not only my observation, but those of the shift <br />sergeants, that we are wasting alot of time and effort in <br />the way we have chosen to report and investigate gas <br />station drive -off "thefts ". <br />Numerous drive -offs are of low dollar value, Under $15.00, <br />and contain very poor vehicle and suspect identification. <br />In the past, we have chosen to take police reports <br />regardless of the the dollar value or the identification <br />level present. This has resulted in wasted manpower hours <br />in reporting, reviewing and investigating these cases. On <br />numerous occasions, the dollar loss amount is far less than <br />what it costs us to respond, report, and investigate the <br />alleged crime. <br />Other jurisdictions consider the matter totally civil in <br />nature, due to the extended credit of making the pumps <br />available to the public, without first positively <br />identifing their customers or seeking collaterial. <br />Most the agencies I check with take an approach as I <br />outline in the attached policy. <br />Sometimes the particular business's operations promote <br />bogus reports due to their internal policy of employees <br />being responsible for all cash register shortages, that are <br />not reported to the police. Its not a far stretch to <br />believe a win -win situatuion exists for the employees to <br />report any and all shortages as a result of a drive -off <br />with little identification elements present, which is <br />usually the cases. This is also a way for someone being <br />paid minimum wage, as usually these clerks are, to increase <br />their disposable income. <br />Page 25 <br />