ROCKETING PETROL PRICES SPARKING HUGE RISE IN ‘FORECOURT FUEL CRIME’
Police in North Staffordshire probe theft of ‘large quantities’ of fuel
POLICE are investigating a rising tide of fuel thefts in North Staffordshire – as forecourts across the country are being hit by motorists driving off without paying for petrol.
Officers in the Moorlands says the area has witnessed an increase in fuel being stolen.
It comes as drivers are continuing to be hit hard at the pumps with the cost of unleaded and diesel remaining high.
Today RAC Fuel Watch is reporting the average cost of unleaded across the UK is 189.84p per litre while super unleaded is 201.81p.
Meanwhile the average cost of diesel is 198.0p which the RAC says is ‘likely to rise’.
Staffordshire Police says there’s been a rise in fuel being taken in the county and officers have urged those with ‘large quantities’ of fuel to keep it secured.
Rebecca Gorman, a PCSO in Leek, said: “Due to increasing fuel prices we are seeing an increase in fuel thefts across the country and within the Moorlands.
“We are looking to disrupt and capture individuals visiting our locality for this purpose.
“Should you see any suspicious activity in such locations please let us know.”
The force can be contacted on 101 or via Facebook and Twitter.
Forecourt Eye, which works with 1,000 garages in the UK, revealed there has been a 39% increase in non-payments since January.
These included motorists driving off without paying or claiming to have forgotten their wallet.
Forecourt theft had been rising month on month since Christmas, with a 19.5 per cent spike in January and February, linked to the rising cost of fuel.
This was followed by another rise of 4.5 per cent in March, 8 per cent in April and a further 7 per cent in May.
The soaring price of fuel is down to supply issues caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and a weak exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the UK’S sterling.
Nick Fisher, chief executive of the digital debt recovery company that traces and track non-payers, said: “This is not a good thing for anyone as more theft is going on. At the moment, we’re seeing a spike of people claiming to forget their wallets. Some people are trying to get away with it.
“There are people who fill up, buy a coffee and don’t pay for the fuel. And then there’s others who put in £30 of fuel and just drive off.”
The British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) is a non-profit organisation that campaigns to reduce fuel crime on UK forecourts.
It said that in the first week of June, incidents of unpaid fuel increased by 22 per cent compared to May.
Claire Nichol, its executive director, said there is ‘no doubt’ that there is a link between rising fuel prices and increased incidents of forecourt fuel crime.