Hi folks:
This may seem a bit remote to some, but the vet organizations are taking this
very seriously re copy cat types.
Larry
----- Original Message -----
From: Don Read
To: Recipient list suppressed
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 1:04 AM
Subject: Fwd: Fw: HIV and Gas Pump Alert
Original Message -----
Don't know if it's true or not, but better safe than sorry.........
****************************************
Subject: Warning HIV and Gas Pump Alert !!!
Subject: Warning: Look at the gas pump handle BEFORE you pump your gas.
Please read and forward to anyone you
know who drives a car.
My name is Captain Abraham Sands of the Jacksonville, Florida
Police Department. I have been asked by state and local authorities to write
this email in order to get the word out to car drivers of a very dangerous
prank that is occurring in numerous states. Some person or persons have been
affixing hypodermic needles to the underside of gas pump handles! These
needles appear to be infected with HIV positive blood. In the Jacksonville
area alone there have been 17 cases of people being stuck by these needles
over the past five months.
We have verified reports of at least 12 others in various states
around the country. It is believed that these may be copycat incidents due to
someone reading about the crimes or seeing them reported on the television.
At this point no one has been arrested and catching the
perpetrator(s) has become our top priority. Shockingly, of the 17 people who
where stuck, eight have tested HIV positive, and because of the nature of the
disease, the others could test positive in a couple years. Evidently the
consumers go to fill their car with gas and when picking up the pump handle
get stuck with the
infected needle.
IT IS IMPERATIVE TO CAREFULLY CHECK THE HANDLE of the gas pump
each
time you use one. LOOK AT EVERY SURFACE YOUR HAND MAY TOUCH,
INCLUDING UNDER THE HANDLE! If you do find a needle affixed to
one,
immediately contact your local police department so they can
collect
the evidence. PLEASE HELP US BY MAINTAINING A VIGILANCE AND BY
FORWARDING THIS EMAIL TO ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO DRIVES.
THE MORE PEOPLE WHO KNOW OF THIS THE BETTER PROTECTED WE CAN ALL
BE.
Captain Abraham Sands of the Jacksonville, Florida Police
Department
