The smell of gas filled the first level of the Hearst Street parking structure at the University of California at Berkeley on Friday and part of it was sealed off with police tape.

This was after the students received an email public safety notice about someone drilling into gas tanks – damaging vehicles – and spilling fuel on the concrete floor.

“Sparks, maybe the car explodes. Also, the fluid dynamics of a very small hole is probably not as good as a tube, ”said student Conner Mi when asked about the dangers of drilling into a reservoir. ‘gasoline.

According to the UC Berkeley Police Department, there were two vehicles in the parking structure this week with punctured gas tanks.

“It’s pretty crazy,” said student Jay M. “I thought it might have something to do with rising gasoline prices.”

The Bay Area has some of the highest average gas prices in the country.

According to AAA, a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline costs about $ 4.83 and the national average is $ 3.42, a difference of over $ 1.20.

“I feel like it’s just skyrocketed in the last six months,” said Michael Paterson.

A spokesperson for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said they had previously investigated gasoline thefts, especially when prices rose.

In Sacramento County last week, a repair shop received video from a security camera showing someone jumping onto their lot and siphoning gasoline from customers’ cars.

UC Berkeley police did not speculate on the motive for the two incidents on campus.

A college employee, who spoke to NBC Bay Area, said one of the damaged vehicles was a college van.

Investigators did not disclose any information on those responsible for the two incidents.