A Lincoln, Nebraska woman is charged with using a rewards card to steal more than $27,000 in free gas over a 6 month period.
Dawn Thompson, 45, was arrested on March 6 after a months-long investigation into the gasoline theft, KOLN reported. She is charged with one count of unlawful theft by taking more than $5,000.
Police said Thompson exploited a software update at a Pump and Pantry gas station in Lincoln to pump free gas for more than six months.
The manager of the Pump and Pantry near West O Street said fuel pumps received a software update in November 2022.
Unbeknownst to the manager, the update allowed anyone to swipe a rewards card twice to switch the pump into a demo mode. The demo mode allowed customers to pump gas for free.
Police believe Thompson took advantage of the software glitch to pump more than 7,000 gallons of free gas between November 13, 2022 and June 1, 2023 when the exploit was fixed.
Police say she sold the rewards card after June 1, 2023.
Video surveillance showed Thompson fueling her vehicle at the gas station on multiple occasions.
It’s estimated that she stole $27,860.27 worth of free gas.
Police also learned of another woman using the rewards card in 2023. The woman was contacted by officers, and she said Thompson let her use the card to get “discounted” gas.
The woman told police she paid Thompson $500 to pump $700 worth of gas.
Thompson was arraigned in court on Thursday. Her bond was set at $7,500. Her next court hearing is scheduled for April 11.
