OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Thieves in Olympia are accused of stealing more than 1,200 gallons of fuel from a local gas station.

“I didn’t believe it; honestly I was shocked. I thought 'How could anyone get that much gas?'” Heather Bradley said.

According to police, the thieves were able to steal the gas from the Village Mart near Olympia by breaking into the station's underground storage tanks.

A similar crime happened nearly two years ago in Rochester, N.Y.

The thieves were caught after using a trailer with a hole cut in the floor and dropping a hose straight into the storage tank and pumping the fuel out.

Bradley, who works at an espresso stand right next to the station, said she is going to keep her eye out for thieves.

“I’m totally going to be watching out now,” Bradley said.

“I’m afraid as the price of gasoline goes up, gasoline will become a more lucrative target in the future,” Lt. Chris Mealy with the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said.

The stolen gas was valued at nearly $4,000.