Angler now treating boat gas like jewelry

By Dan Nienaber
Free Press Staff Writer

MADISON LAKE August 05, 2008 10:57 pm

— Curt Schueneman said he’s now treating his fishing boat gas the same way he treats his fancy fishing poles and trolling motor: He’s locking them up after a day on the lake.
The gas from Schueneman’s boat and of others staying at the Lone Pine Inn on Madison Lake’s southeast shore has been stolen twice this summer. He suspects the thieves are coming in from the lake late at night. Someone would probably hear them if they were driving on the inn’s gravel roads off Blue Earth County Road 48.
It’s fair to say the people staying at the resort have been riled by the thefts, Schueneman said. He’s heard talk of shooting on sight or “stringing them up by their you-know-what” — if they happen to be men.
They must be siphoning the gas because they got every drop from his 6-gallon tank, he said. He also believes they’re using the gas to fuel their own boats because many boat motors use gas mixed with oil.
“It’s hard to pick up that tank and just pour it into another tank,” Schueneman said. “The gas has oil in it, so they can’t be putting it in their cars. Although, I hope they do.”
There haven’t been any other reports of gas thefts on Blue Earth County lakes, said Capt. Rich Murry of the Sheriff’s Department.
The thefts at the resort happened Sunday night and once in late June or early July, Schueneman said. Until the thefts stop, he’s planning to keep locking his gas up in his shed when he’s done fishing.
“That’s a shame because you got to drag that heavy gas tank and put it in the shed,” he said. “They got a lot of guts.”