ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Gasoline prices are inching toward record highs, and so are thefts of the fuel, USA Today reports. The regular unleaded gasoline average is $1.02 higher than a year ago and will continue to climb.

With pump prices in an increasing number of locations hitting the $4 or more mark, drive-offs from fill-ups, as well as thefts of larger quantities of gasoline, has risen, too. Not surprisingly, gasoline thefts hurt convenience stores the most.

"No question that's [theft is] up," said Jeff Lenard, NACS spokesman. "Any business that still allows you to pump gas first and then pay can be taken advantage of."

While more gasoline stations are switching to prepayment pumps, retailers in the Midwest and West still have pump-first, pay-later operations. The Maverik chain is one that has had a bump in drive-offs, said Nancy Couch, the chain€™s loss-prevention director. Drive-offs usually equal about 1 percent of sales.

In Indiana, the state Attorney General said that $4.17 per gallon gasoline is not price gouging, WISH-TV reports. Earlier this week, the office indicated it was investigating allegations of price fixing at gasoline stations.

The AG€™s office discovered that market factors drove up the cost of gasoline at two gasoline stations. Another station is still under investigation. Recently, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said a consumer watchdog group would be formed to keep an eye on the gas and oil market.