It appears that some criminals are taking desperate measures just to save money on gas.

Simonton Lake resident Mike Colcord woke up last month to find more than 47 gallons of gasoline in a puddle around his pickup truck.

After some investigating Colcord learned the leak came from thieves who had used an electric screw-driver to pierce a hole in his gas tank to try and steal the gas inside.

In addition to the sheer safety hazard from the potential of an explosion, Colcord says damage and replacement costs were more than $1,000.

"Get up the next morning to go to work, you can't get to work because somebody has drilled a hole in your gas tank. Replacing the gas, repairs, that's your whole week, your whole week's wages are shot right there."

The thieves also stole fishing gear from the cargo hold of the vehicle.

Within the same month, NewsCenter 16's Terry McFadden profiled a strikingly similar gas theft case in Granger. Police do not know if the two crimes are connected.