Woman Discovers Method for Acquiring Free Gasoline for Months; Now Faces Felony Theft Charge

LINCOLN, NE. – A Nebraska woman who devised an unconventional method to obtain free gasoline for an extended period now finds herself confronting criminal charges.

The 45-year-old was recently apprehended and is currently out on bond pending an April court appearance on felony theft charges. Her purported scheme persisted for several months, allegedly causing the gas station nearly $28,000 in losses, according to investigators.

The authorities became aware of the situation in October 2023 when a loss-prevention manager reported a scam at a gas station in Lincoln, Nebraska. The company claimed ignorance regarding a loophole that allowed individuals to swipe a rewards card twice, triggering a gas pump demonstration mode that permitted free fueling.

Utilizing a single card multiple times, the woman allegedly procured free gas, with authorities tracing the transactions back to her. Surveillance footage reportedly captured her pumping gas during multiple visits between November 2022 and June 1, 2023.

Over this period, she purportedly used the rewards card 510 times, acquiring more than 7,400 gallons of complimentary gas. Additionally, she stands accused of enabling another individual to utilize her rewards card for free gas in exchange for a fee. The woman’s identity has not been disclosed.