BEWARE - RECENT TREND IN FUEL THEFT!
The amount of fuel thefts being reported across the UK shows no sign of decreasing, despite the price of fuel coming down in the last few months. On site generators, fuel bowsers, parked HGV’s and construction plant are still regularly targeted for fuel.
There are geographical discrepancies in the price of fuel with on average a 3p per litre difference across the country from North to South; this does not appear to impact the frequency of fuel thefts, or make any region more prone to offending. Rural farms and construction sites both in rural and urban settings are targeted.
The problem is country wide and offences including the draining of fuel from bowsers is on the increase, recently reported thefts highlight that the financial reward of such crime, is still favourable amongst thieves.
In most cases the theft is sophisticated and indicates that organised criminal gangs are responsible.
CITS suggest that, any storage facilities and compounds that are used to store fuel, house generators or store plant machinery, should review their existing security measures including checking perimeter security, ensuring CCTV Systems are in good working order, ensure visible deterrents are in place, and plant is stored within compounds. If possible, it is recommended to fit alarms to fuel tanks to notify owners of tampering or leakage. In rural settings locate generators within sight of occupied farm buildings.
