Copper thefts in Los Angeles could no longer be the only crime of desperation surging the city. With gas prices increasing everyday (the latest: nearly $4.11/gallon of regular unleaded), so are sales of lockable gas caps at auto stores.

"We're going to start seeing some people who are normally good do bad things in these tough economic times," said LAPD Senior Lead Officer Ron Carter at a neighborhood watch meeting a few weeks ago in Sherman Oaks. And while the LAPD has not seen a "serious spike" in gas thefts yet, scattered cases are coming in. And as gas prices continue to increase, expect the police reports. At $4.11, a 25-gallon SUV costs $102.75 to fill up.

Photo of gas siphoning by bradleyolin via Flickr