WOODSTOCK, Ga. -- The rising price of gas is pushing thieves to get creative and forcing drivers to be on the alert when they pump gas at stations and convenience stores.

Thieves are waiting for drivers who prepay for gas with credit or debit cards. Then, if the driver starts pumping gas, but walks away from the car to make a purchase inside the store, the thieves move in. They snatch the gas pump from the victim's vehicle and quickly fill their own vehicle with as much fuel as possible.

Woodstock police became aware of the caper when one man was victimized at a Cherokee County convenience store. He came out of the store to find the pump showed he had purchased 24 gallons of gas, but his car only holds 16 gallons.

He called police and they checked the store's surveillance video. The tape showed a fast moving crook grab the gas pump from the victim's car and put the missing eight gallons into his own vehicle. At $4 a gallon, that's $32 worth of stolen gas.

Woodstock police said reports of similar thefts are circulating around the country.