[Stoat]

So, either their gas caps weren't the locking kind (WHAT???) or their gas cap keys were on a separate ring.

Or their vehicles may have the little button thingy (tech. term) on the inside of the vehicle that flips open the gas cap.
 

Aren't you referring to the gas cap DOOR?  And isn't that a pretty easy thing for a screwdriver-equipped thug to pry open?  Whether I were a cop or not, I would have  BOTH. 

So, either their gas caps weren't the locking kind (WHAT???) or their gas cap keys were on a separate ring.

Or their vehicles may have the little button thingy (tech. term) on the inside of the vehicle that flips open the gas cap.
 

Aren't you referring to the gas cap DOOR?  And isn't that a pretty easy thing for a screwdriver-equipped thug to pry open?  Whether I were a cop or not, I would have  BOTH. 

[Chena]

I'm puzzled, however. They were both out of their cars, fueling their vehicles. So, either their gas caps weren't the locking kind (WHAT???) or their gas cap keys were on a separate ring. Considering that it's the LAW everywhere in the USA that I've been to shut off your vehicle when you are fuelling it, it makes no sense to have the gas key and the ignition key on different rings, since you have to have the ignition off when you are at a gas station and so it's useless to have the key in the ignition.

Yes, I was referring to the gas cap DOOR and the fact that many vehicles have a button on the dash for opening those fuel doors. I only brought it up because of your above comment ("I'm puzzled, though...") concerning the location of the "keys"....yata yata

As for the story itself, it was obviously a serious error in judgement for the father to leave his keys in the vehicle while he was away from the vehicle.

That isn't an issue where we live, but I know it is out there.