Police warn of gas station thieves called ‘sliders’

A video out of Florida shows a woman pumping gas as a thief pulls up and then steals her purse right off of her car’s front seat.

Police call them “sliders” because the thieves slide up next to the victim’s car, reach in and steal something. They said the crime works because people expect to hear cars come and go at a gas station, and because people don’t expect someone would be so brazen as to steal something from them when they’re only a few feet away.

West Chester Police Officer Jeff Newman said complacency is often part of the problem.

“It’s what we always deal with, is kind of laziness for people, that false sense of security that they think they’re in and they just leave things be and unlocked and unsecured, and they go about their business and they become a victim,” he said.

People who saw the video of the Florida slider were shocked.

“Scary, very scary,” Kreshelle Boynton said. “Makes me think twice for sure. Like I said, I’m glad my gas pump is on that side of my car, but I’m definitely going to lock my doors now.”

Newman said drivers should secure their cars before going to pump gas.

“I would always pull my key out and lock the door,” he said. “I think now with these sliders being out there, it’s probably a good idea to go ahead and lock the door, especially if you leave the car and go in and pay for gas.”

Police are warning people everywhere that, during this time of year with more people out, more thieves are out and there’s a greater risk of having property stolen.

WCPO is a news partner of the Journal-News.

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