In case you never saw a gas pump, here's one. (Marek Studzinski/Unsplash)
Disclaimer: While this article is based on premium unleaded facts, it does contain trace amounts of sa-tire, which should improve your comedy efficiency.
Free gas is usually only available at Mexican restaurants, but a Lincoln, Nebraska woman figured out a way to get it from the local Pump and Pantry gas station. Dawn Thompson, 45, is charged with one count of theft after pumping free gas that added up to over $27,000. Based on current sky-high gas prices, it is estimated that she stole at least 6 gallons of gas.
The scam originated after the pumps at the Pump and Pantry received a software update in November 2022. An unnamed man discovered that a rewards card could be swiped twice to put the pump into demo mode that dispensed free gas. And if you swipe three times, the pump would play “Mambo Number 5.” It is alleged that this man gave the card to Thompson to pay off a debt from gambling on girls high school volleyball.
Thompson also made an arrangement with another woman who paid her to use the card. This woman told police that Thompson let her use the card for “discounted gas.” In this case, the discount was 100%. Thompson used the card a total of 510 times from November 2022 through June 2023 when she finally sold it for $30 and a rare Beanie Baby.
Gas station employees first became suspicious when they realized that someone was actually using the super premium gas instead of just filling up with regular like everyone else, which eventually spurred the months long investigation.
Thompson was finally arrested on March 6th. She could have driven far away from the scene of her crime, but the idea of paying for gas made her sick.
