Police warning of fuel thefts as prices increase

POLICE are warning there could be an increase in oil thefts sparked by a rise in fuel prices.

It follows incidents where oil tanks were targeted and agricultural vehicles also had diesel fuel stolen, in Conwy and Denbighshire.

People have been urged to take extra precautions as fuel prices continue to soar to unprecedented levels amid a cost of living cash crisis, hitting the UK.

North Wales Police Conwy and Denbighshire, have issued a warning which said: “Due to the rise in fuel prices across the UK, there could be an increase in the theft of heating oil. Indeed within this district we have already seen two reported incidents of thefts from oil tanks and theft of diesel from agricultural vehicle.”

Officers urged anybody with an oil tank to take measures to protect them.

They included floodlights covering the tank location, a padlock on the cover, a structure or wall around the oil tank and a roof on top of any tanks/structures to keep them out of sight of drones.

Other measures include tank alarms, which alert owners of sudden changes in fuel levels and CCTV covering the tank or access to where the tank is located.

People were also urged not to leave agricultural vehicles in fields making them more vulnerable to theft of diesel.