Gas, it seems, is the new liquid gold and some people are doing just about anything to get it out of your tank, and into theirs.

Gas thefts are on the rise across the country and in the local area.

Two weeks ago, Dave Glavis walked out to his pickup truck, on his way to work, after spending $94 to fill to full up both of his gas tanks up the night before.

"Tuesday morning, I wake up, come out to my truck and my gas gauge was on empty," Glavis said. "Someone had just siphoned all the gas."

It seems Glavis is one of many victims across the country of having gas stolen right out of their car.

AAA Mid-Atlantic said some are siphoning and others are cutting or puncturing gas lines. Two cases have been reported in South Jersey and some out of Delaware.

"I'm sure there's a lot of people in the Delaware Valley that need their vehicle to get to work and if someone steals their gas, they might not be able to get to work," Glavis said.

AAA said gas-stealing incidents like this were reported during the oil crisis of the '70s. A quick check of auto parts stores showed gas cap locks are selling well. Glavis said he hasn't bought one because he has a different technique to keep his petrol from getting pilfered.

"I do park my truck different now. Instead of my gas tanks on the outside I turn it around and put it against another car so that it doesn't happen again," he said.

Oil prices shot to a new record Tuesday near $127 a barrel, because of concerns Iran may consider cutting oil production.

The average national price for gas currently is at a new record -- $3.73, which is up 12 cents from just a week ago.

Ten days away from Memorial Day and most experts said the price will continue to rise and may not ease back after that weekend.

In fact, some analysts are saying the prices will surge much higher, and may breach the psychologically important $4 mark.

Already, consumers are cutting back. Two out of three people who planned a road trip this summer, said they're changing their travel plans.