Fuel theft is on increase

Jun 27 2008

SPIRALLING prices at the pump have led to a rise in theft.

Number-plate theft has been a common practice by hardened criminals concealing the identity of vehicles used in serious crime.

But now the tactic has been used in Perth by one man who went to a local garage on Tuesday afternoon and stole just under £50 of petrol.

At around 2pm the man filled up the tiny tank of his silver Vauxhall Corsa at the BP Connect garage on Dunkeld Road and then drove off without paying. He had covered up his real registration using number-plates he had stolen moments earlier from a red Ford Fiesta parked on Perth’s Tay Street.

Superintendent Craig Suttie said: “Stolen number-plates used to be a tactic used in armed robberie. But with fuel prices on the rise, theft is on the increase and it is amazing what lengths criminals are prepared to go to steal fuel,” he added.

Police are investigating other thefts of fuel across the Big County this week.

In Crieff on Monday night diesel was siphoned from a lorry parked in British Telecom’s compound on Alligan Road.

And on Tuesday a farmer near Burrelton discovered a massive drum of red diesel had been stolen from his property sometime since last Friday.

Local crime prevention officer Donald Campbell says you should ensure fuel caps are locked and park close to a wall so they can’t be reached for siphoning.

Anyone with information on fuel theft, including where the number plates W137 JSL used in the forecourt raid at BP on Tuesday are now, is urged to contact police by calling 0845 600 5705.