Thursday, July 24, 2008 Calinao: Gas suckers By Nick Prill Calinao Free and Easy
YES, Mondays are normally filled with a lot of frenzy. The Monday morning rush never fails to make itself felt. Students rush to school with oversized knapsacks and droopy eyes; while office workers, employees, and professionals trek to work wishing the previous weekend was extended.
Driving to work early Monday morning, I had more than my usual taste of the regular "week-opening" frenzy. With a 14-hour working day ahead, my thoughts were all focused on the awaiting tasks. Suddenly, my car engine stopped.
Naturally, I was surprised; I knew that I warmed-up the engine right, as well as checked its oil level, transmission fluid, brake fluid, water, battery, tires, etc.
I tried to start the car again, but to no avail. Eventually, I ended-up popping the hood and checking for anything that looked amiss. Damn!!! It was a Monday and I didn't want to be late for work right in the beginning of the week. The truth is I am rarely late for commitments.
Failing to find anything wrong and not knowing much about auto engines, I had no choice but to pick-up a mechanic friend. After a brief check-up, all he said was "You don't seem to have any gas left."
"Impossible!" I retorted. Though my gas gauge may be malfunctioning at times, I was sure that my tank still had around 15 to 20 liters of unleaded gasoline… But yes, my mechanic buddy was right. All it took was a few knocks on the gas tank to prove that it was definitely hollow and empty.
"#@*%#... gas suckers!" I unintentionally blurted out. Yes, as it turned-out, I was victimized by a different breed of "vampires;" the breed that sucks gas tanks dry, and sells the stolen liquid to syndicates..
Later on that day, I learned that "gas sucking" and "diesel sucking" are slowly becoming rampant acts of petty criminals. As a result, the woes of motorists are no longer limited to the rising cost of fuel and auto parts, coupled with congested traffic routes. "Gas-sucking pests" are beginning to proliferate and "stolen fuel" syndicates are enjoying ill-gotten profits.
Well, with the soaring prices of petroleum products, it does seem that "gas sucking" is another means for thieves to make "quick bucks." Having been victimized myself, I couldn't help it but hope that these "gas suckers" and syndicates get caught and jailed.
Since "sucking" is what these thieves are damn good at, I guess that they very well deserve to "suck boredom out their thumbs" while doing time in jail instead of "sucking hard earned money" out of gasoline and diesel tanks of citizens.
