LANSING - With gas prices climbing towards $4 a gallon, the temptation to speed away without paying can be strong.

Some gas station patrons are giving into that temptation, said Col. Peter Munoz, director of the State Police.

“With drive-offs, we do notice an increase as the price goes up,” Munoz said.

Gas station attendants are stepping up measures to prevent drive-offs, Munoz said.

“A lot of merchants are installing more cameras to try to identify the driver or the license plate,” he said. “Some of them in high-crime areas are changing their policy to require payment before pumping, usually after dark.”

The number of drive-offs is difficult to determine since they are classified with other larceny charges, said State Police public affairs representative Melody Kindraka.

The theft of gas drives the price up more for honest consumers, said Mark Griffin, president of the Michigan Petroleum Association.

“The station pays for the fuel up front,” Griffin said. “When the customer drives away without paying, the gas station has to eat that cost. Since it’s unreimbursed, it raises the price of gas for everyone else.”

Some gas stations, like an Admiral gas station in Lansing, are already seeing an increase in drive-offs.

Typically, manager Ronda Schiebero says that three or four patrons leave without paying each week.

When asked if such crimes are occurring more frequently, Schiebero said “Absolutely. It’s crazy.”

In addition to making all customers pre-pay after 11 p.m., Schiebero says she tries to monitor vehicles as best she can to prevent gas theft.

“We basically keep an eye on the pump, try to get a description of the vehicle and a license plate number if we can,” Schiebero said. “Then we report the problem to the police.”

In some areas, drive-offs aren’t a huge problem, said Sgt. David Koch of the Alpena Police Department.

“We get maybe four or five a month,” Koch said. “More often than not, it’s usually someone who forgets to pay and comes back.

“But if it reaches $4, it could get worse,” he warned.

Convictions for stealing gas have been rising steadily for the past few years.

In 2007 there were 123 convictions statewide, an increase from 2006 with 101 convictions and 2005 with 86 convictions, according to the Secretary of State’s office. Numbers for 2008 to date were not available.

A first offense can result in a six-month suspended license, and a second offense to a one-year suspension, according to the Secretary of State’s office.