Fuel-line cutting epedemic! - Roberson
Dear all,

For those of you who live in the North East of England (which I dont think many of you do) I would keep an eye on you fuel supply lines!. Not so long ago, I remember reading in the local newpaper and on the regional news, that a spate of cars had been sabotaged by their fuel lines being cut. The petrol that was drained off was being used so that they could inhale its vapours, in order to get a 'kick'. One poor guy had his Escort fuel lines cut three times in a month.

This was initailly only a problem experienced in 1 town but now nighbouring towns seem to be getting it too, as I found out this morning to see a pipe trailing underneath my car.

Upon further investigation, it turned out they had leant under the car, near the tank, and cut the first of 3 pipes that run along side each other under the car, and Cut the one closest to them. Obviously not being impressed with the few dribbles that came out, they must have gave it a good yank, and then when still nothing came out, just left it.

No wonder nothing came out, they cut the wrong one, they cut the fuel return pipe! I'm now hoping they don't come back. It cost me very little to repair (£8 for fuel hose and 2clips) but its beside the point, as it could have cost more (i.e. the 3 gallons in the tank) and there is nothing I can do about it.

So watch out and use your nose!

Roberson

Fuel-line cutting epedemic! - Altea Ego
Still you can be happy in the knowledge the benzine in the fumes will kill them eventually.
Fuel-line cutting epedemic! - Andrew-T
Do you think these halfwits are focused enough to check whether the cars they attack are diesels?
Fuel-line cutting epedemic! - Tony Bee
This is strange. In the town I used to live in, Peterborough, cutting a fuel line was a prelude to setting your car alight. Someone is sure to correct me but I'm sure I read that in the first 4 months of the year 8 cars per night on average were burned out
It rarely even gets reported in the local rag, unless there is something newsworthy, like 8 cars in a line parked along a street. That got in.
Smashing place
Fuel-line cutting epedemic! - Robin Reliant
Won't be long before one of these thrill seekers decide to enhance the experience by lighting up while they're having a sniff.

I suppose the parents will then try and sue the car owner after the funeral.
Fuel-line cutting epedemic! - Civic8
I have my doubts that is what they are doing.for one fumes neat will choke.its bad enough smelling fumes at a garage.
certain persons have been stealing petrol from cars for many years.the problem for them has been how to open the fuel flap/cap lock.best way to do it as is done around my area cut the fuel line.it is getting worse all over the country so I wouldnt blame it on junkies as they most probably would suffocate.bear in mind younsters dont know what line to cut so they guess.I wont say what else has been done due to giving ideas.cost of petrol is causing this not anyone hoping to get high.and I think will get worse.ie theft of petrol
Fuel-line cutting epedemic! - Imagos
This happenend to a friend of mine several times who lives in Tilbury Essex and is a well known problem there.

Apparently the kids steal the fuel for their motorised scooters then terrorise the local area with them as the are unable to buy fuel from local garages as they won't sell it to under 16's and/or most likely they have no money.

He has now welded several metal plates over fuel lines to try and prevent futher occurences, which could have been very dangerous in itself!
Fuel-line cutting epedemic! - Andrew-T
As I'm sure no common sense enters these situations, it may be just as easy to drill into the plastic tank? So protecting fuel lines is only a partial remedy.
Fuel-line cutting epedemic! - Civic8
>>it may be just as easy to drill into the plastic tank?
Thats why I didnt mention what else is done.so not to give Ideas ie this has already been done.
Fuel-line cutting epedemic! - Roberson
Hi,

Firstly, I think that my particular incident was sparked by the need for petrol to burn, not to sniff. But this WAS the issue they were having in one particular town (Blyth) that many teenagers 14-16?, were gaining seriouse injuries by attempting to get high on the fumes. see: icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/eveningchronicle/eveni...1

Andrew T: No probably not, because I have scince heard of incident were deisels have been done too.

Tony Bee: I think they have tried that too. (setting them alight)

Tom Shaw: Setting alight is a tame idea, after all, they did try and drink it too.

imagos: funny you should mention, but kids in our area have one of those illegal 'Gopeds', where they use it to tear down the back lane at an eye watering 5mph. Where do they get the petrol from?

Thanks for you thaughts so far

Roberson


Fuel-line cutting epedemic! - Algernon
This line cutting has been going on for a very long time, at least since these clever locking caps came in which stopped the great unwashed from just siphoning the petrol out. A snag was that instead of hacksaw blading a metal fuel line they might mistakenly take out a hydraulic brake line - not necessarily dual circuit.

Admittedly then they usually just pinched the petrol without lighting the source.
Fuel-line cutting epedemic! - Civic8
>>eye watering 5mph
dont know what the top end is but a bit faster than 5mph.