"He'd even taken off his license plate. He knew what he was doing," Many said Wednesday, hours after the seventh theft at the downtown Indianapolis station in two weeks.

With a gallon of gas averaging $1.41 nationwide, it seems some motorists are exploiting the busy nature of gas stations and convenience stores by taking off without paying for gas.

Gas prices are expected to stay high into the summer travel season, and some analysts even predict pump prices could rise to $1.70 per gallon before the problem eases.

At the Amoco station Wednesday, regular was $1.55 a gallon, while premium commanded $1.75.

Harry Murphy, a spokesman for the Service Station Dealers of America, said there's been a slight increase in gas thefts nationwide, but it's a far cry from the rash of thefts and siphonings during gas shortages in the 1970s.

"They may be going up a smidgen right now, but I haven't heard any hew and cry about it," said Murphy, whose Lanham, Md.-based group represents about 120,000 service stations in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Still, a quick survey of stations across the nation Wednesday suggested a growing problem with gas thefts.

Al Carroll, who owns two gas stations in Shreveport, La., said two motorists stole gas from one of his stations in the past week — the first such thefts he could remember in years. Both customers had big sports utility vehicles. One got away with $22 worth of gas and the second $28 worth.

"I think it's a matter of seeing if they can away with it," Carroll said. "We just caution the cashiers to be extra careful and be on the lookout."

Carroll said regular gas costs $1.38 per gallon at his gas stations. A year ago, the price was about 99 cents per gallon.

In Oklahoma's Muskogee County, where prices are around $1.40 per gallon, reports of people driving off without paying for gas have doubled in recent weeks.

One theft report came in as police dispatcher Stan Mathews explained that the sheriff's office is receiving about seven to eight calls a week.

"They're just taking a tankful right now — wait until the prices get over $2," he said.

In Indiana's Porter County, the increase in thefts has mirrored the rise in gasoline prices, said county Patrolman Timothy Emmons. The agency had been getting about two such thefts a week until last week; now there are about two a day.

"What people don't realize is that theft of gasoline, even if only a few dollars worth, is a felony that can mean up to a three-year jail sentence," Emmons said.

With thefts increasing, some law enforcement agencies plan to step up efforts to catch thieves.

Scott Minier of the Marion County Sheriff's Department said rising gas prices certainly increase the value of the theft.

"Coupled with the fact that some SUVs have 40-gallon tanks, we're talking a lot of money," he said.