Gasoline theft happened in the 1970’s too. I recall my father buying locking gas caps for all our vehicles.
Energy crisis back then led to:
Reduced freeway speeds to 55
Temperature recommendations for homes of 72/68
Locking gas caps
Fuel rationing on even/odd days
“I recall my father buying locking gas caps for all our vehicles.”
I totally forgot about them until I read your post. Wow! My 1982 VW Rabbit had a locking gas cap. That car was a real P.O.S.
We had locking gas caps, too.
And also, the temperature recommendations for a while were setting your house to 55 degrees.
We turned our thermostat down, but not to 55, yet I worked with a guy who made his wife do that with two little kids at home, one of them sick with the flu. They guy was a piece of work anyways, but it was then that I lost any respect I had remaining for him.
He could go to work all day and be nice and warm, and demanded his wife and kids stay at home and freeze in their own home. Fifty-five is stinking cold for indoors.
At least there were no supply issue shortages. Is started my first job out of college in 78. Soon after Jimmy Carter was elected and it all went to hell in a hand basket.
We are not the same county as then. The demographics is less Caucasian and more minority. The 13%rs will be the problem. Just look at any city over 150,000.
God bless those of us who remember the rationing, siphoning, locking caps, etc.