Metro Day Care Falls Victim To Gas Thieves For Fourth Time

A metro day care can't catch a break.

Step Into Learning Childcare's van has been broken into for its gas four times.

Even the kids at Step Into Learning Childcare have caught on.

“Awesome. Here we go again,” thought Owner Jana Westberry when they found a hole drilled into the now empty gas tank.

“The children were literally lining up to go on their field trip,” said Westberry.

The gas has been stolen from the day care's Yukon and Moore locations over the past year. Always the same van, but with different methods.

Photos show the gas cap was stolen once. Another time windows were broken and Hazmat was called.

“It's disappointing to them. As children, they're young and impressionable,” said Westberry.

After being disappointed a fourth time, Westberry has given up reporting to police or her insurance company.

Instead, she bought a backup van and some extra security equipment.

Moore Police say having lock caps is a good idea.

“We see this whenever gas prices start going up and you know, it becomes more valuable,” said Moore Police Sergeant Jeremy Lewis.

Westberry said the next time gas thieves strikes, there will be more cameras watching them.

While the destruction of the van has put her out thousands of dollars, the daycare owner said the real victims here are the kids.

“You're not just affecting me and my company and my financial figures. You're affecting these kids and what they get to do,” said Westberry.

Police also recommend keeping large vehicles in garages and behind fences if you can, to prevent this.