One of the nation's largest fuel providers has decided to make a sweeping change to its pumps across Ontario, which, though it doesn't have to do with the hot topic of gas prices, does pertain to customer payment.

As of early next month, those filling up at Petro-Canada stations in the province will no longer be able to pay at the register after the fact, but will instead have to pre-pay either at the pump or inside.

While it's being billed as a "safer and more efficient way" to purchase, it's also an obvious response to increasing fuel theft, which has made mandatory pre-payment so popular in other parts of the country.

The "gas-and-dash" trend has been identified as a problem by Ontario police for years now, with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police writing in 2021 that there was "growing concern by police leaders of the serious public safety impact of gas thefts."

The group has since been calling for the provincial government to implement 24-hour pre-payment technology at all gas stations through a special act tabled by a local MPP.

Some companies, like Shell, already enforce pre-payment at select locations in the province.

For Petro-Canada patrons, the new rule goes into effect at all corporate-owned locations on September 3. Independent owners will be able to opt-in at their discretion.