NATCHEZ — As gas prices have risen, so has the frequency of gas drive-offs, Natchez Police Department Sgt. Craig Godbold said.

“When it started hitting $3 a gallon is when it started picking up,” Godbold said.

Now that gas prices have risen even higher, Godbold said that some people cannot resist the temptation to steal.

“(They) just pump the gas and go and hope (they) don’t get caught,” he said.

However, some gas stations are trying to make sure that these thieves do get caught.

Many stores are improving their video camera systems to spot the license plates of people who pump without paying.

“If we get your tag number we will come and get you,” Godbold said.

Other stores are switching to a pay before you pump policy, which has cut out all gas thefts for the Exxon station at the intersection of U.S. 61 North and Morgantown Road, said Nellie Terrell, an employee.

“We’ve got the prepay signs out there on each pump,” she said. “Some of them might give you $100 and when they get through pumping they come back in and get their change.”

Carla Felter, a manager of B-Kwik Food Mart at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Homochitto Street — which does not have a pay at the pump — set up said they had two drive-offs last week, one for $10 and one for $60.

“Some times they won’t hang up the nozzle so we won’t hear the beep because when we hear the beep that’s how we know to look for them,” Felter said.

She said that until the station gets a better camera system they have to keep a close eye out for people trying to steal gas.