Nabil Molai

Omaha (KPTM) - Get out your wallet record highs again for oil and gas prices; the national average for gas is now nearly four dollars.  So with gas prices going up, people are spending more money to protect their investment.

High gas prices are definitely being felt here in Omaha.  Prices at many stations went up fourteen cents on Wednesday.  With these high prices, people are taking extra measures to keep the gas they've already bought.

Businesses like advanced auto parts say, they've seen more people buying locking gas caps.

Normally, they're not that big of a seller, but several stores have actually sold out.  And with prices continuing to rise, stores are now scrambling to keep the locks in stock.

Michael Warman, an Advanced Auto Parts manager, "50 to 70 percent more, people are definitely taking more precaution to protect their investment that they put their gas tanks.  Gas prices are nearly four dollars a gallon, you're going to be more precautious."

Rose White with AAA Nebraska says, "Make certain that you have that's a tight fit because many people are actually wasting fuel these days because they are using a loose gas caps."

You can buy locking gas caps for most cars. For newer models, locking gas caps aren't needed since most gas caps are already locked and have to be unlocked from inside the car.

Triple-A leaders say, they could be booked with grand theft instead of a misdemeanor.  It's something they say you may see more of as gas prices get closer to four bucks per gallon.