Armoring Your Tank

You know gas is expensive when the Florida Lottery starts doling out prizes in the form of gas cards. But here's another sign of the times: fear of thieves siphoning fuel has led to a surge in the sale of locking gas caps. Stant Manufacturing, a leading gas-cap maker, has already sold more locking caps in the first six months of this year--some 1.3 million--than in all of 2007. Yes, these locks can be jimmied, but New York City locksmith Frank Persico thinks they're still worth it. "You have to put time and effort into actually trying to break the thing open," he says. Which people may do if prices get high enough.