San Diego Ram owner couldn't believe what his computer dashboard showed, and unfortunately, it wasn't good news

When a San Diego truck owner fired up his Dodge Ram one morning, he was hit with a dashboard warning that didn’t make any sense.

His dashboard ominously flashed ‘zero miles to empty’, despite having plenty of gas just days before.

What he discovered next wasn’t just surprising, but expensive.

And it wasn’t a leak… the issue was much more alarming.

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Thieves had targeted his truck.

And it turns out it’s a growing trend is his area of San Diego that’s leaving drivers frustrated, stranded, and thousands of dollars in the hole.

While it’s not uncommon for thieves to steal expensive cars like a Ferrari SF90, some decide to go for something more attainable.

Unlike the old-school method of siphoning gas from the fuel cap, today’s thieves are taking a more destructive route: crawling under cars and drilling directly into gas tanks.

That’s exactly what happened to Marco, a Dodge Ram owner in San Diego, outside his home last Friday.

Marco told local news that he noticed some metal shavings on the ground and smelled gas when he approached his truck in the morning.

Upon closer inspection, he saw a hole drilled straight through the tank.

His Dodge Ram has now been out of commission for almost a week, and the costs are adding up fast, between towing, diagnostics, insurance deductibles, and the looming bill for repairs.

The fix is estimated to cost thousands of dollars, and Marco has missed four days of work while trying to deal with the problem.

Unfortunately, Marco’s not alone.

After sharing his story on the Nextdoor app, he discovered at least two other neighbors had their gas tanks drilled in recent months.

And local mechanics confirmed it wasn’t an isolated issue, with fuel theft cases happening at least once a month.

While some believe that the fuel tank can simply be patched, mechanics say that the entire fuel tank has to be replaced for safety reasons.

This can cost $2,000 to $3,000, depending on the vehicle.

SUVs and trucks like Marco’s are especially vulnerable because their higher clearance makes them easier for thieves to slide under.

Combine that with rising gas prices, and it’s easy to see why there are more cases being reported.

The San Diego Police Department said these fuel theft incidents were a criminal offense and should be reported immediately.

They urged car owners to park in garages or well-lit areas, instal security cameras, and use motion-sensing dash cams if possible.

Perhaps it’s time to consider buying an EV, as thieves can’t drill your gas tank, and the cost of charging an EV compared to gas prices may shock you.

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