DETROIT – A local gas station owner is warning his peers about a new gas-stealing scheme that has already robbed his business of about $45,000.

Mohamed Jaber of the Fill & Go station at Schaefer and Jeffries on Detroit’s west side said that thieves have been siphoning gas from underground tanks into an unmarked Ford Econoline white van.

The thieves’ plans involve parking the van near the front of the station before walking in and buying items such as chips, sandwiches, and newspapers before leaving. During their purchases, they leave their own pumps running in order to steal the gas from the tanks while employees are distracted or ringing them up for their purchases.

Jaber told Fox 2 Detroit that he and his employees have had to park an extra car on top of the manhole cover leading to the tanks in order to ward off the thieves.

The main thief has been caught on video surveillance, however. Jaber and the police are hopeful that he will be apprehended soon and brought to justice.

Jaber said he believes other stations are also being hit and says that the thieves appear to be professionals with some knowledge of how gas stations are operated.