Gas cap door cover gone! Bad luck or bad people?

[Whodatindamini]

The other day I noticed that the door covering my gas cap was now just a black plastic disc. The British racing green cover is gone!
My first thought was that someone might have forced open the door to siphon out the gas (this is apparently becoming more common again as gas prices go up. BTW, am I allowed to say "gas" or do I have to say "petrol" on this site?). However, the lock still works and the deeper parts of the mechanism seem OK.

The black plastic cover does not seem to be damaged, which makes me wonder whether someone carefully removed the cover (and there is also a small scratch on the adjacent side panel, perhaps from a screwdriver?).

On the other hand who would want a cover except another Mini Convertible owner, & one would hate to think that one person in this relatively small, and apparently relatively enlightened, group would do this to another.

Has anyone had a problem with their cover coming off, or is there a rat in our midst?

[Sunnybanker]

Hi.The cover you mention is pretty poor quality, it's a sort of interlocking bayonet fitting that holds the body coloured cover onto the fuel cap.
LAst week , I was cleaning my wife's Cabrio (as you do)...and whilst using my chamois I managed to dislodge the cover.Quickly I put it back on before she noticed, (doghouse beckoned), so, I reckon they may just work loose due to vibration ??

[MJKK]

My cover fell off at a petrol station

[Rakey]

my GF's cover fell off her MCC too, dealer replaced it under warranty