Police tackle oil criminals

North Yorkshire Police has launched a special operation to target thieves who fuel organised crime gangs and black markets with stolen oil.

In the first half of the year alone, officers dealt with 71 reports of oil thefts across the county – an average of a theft every two to three days.

Some left residents and businesses thousands of pounds out of pocket.

For others the stakes are were even higher, including a woman in her 90s who was left without fuel to heat her rural home after thieves drained her heating oil tank.

Heating oil, cooking oil and vehicle fuel are all being targeted, often by criminals who enter the county especially for theft sprees.

In May, used cooking oil was stolen from The Coach House Inn at Rosedale Abbey, following similar incidents in March in Roxby, Hinderwell and Sandsend.

North Yorkshire Police has launched an operation to prevent further offences and catch those responsible.

Insp Clive Turner, of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Task

Force, said: “With many types of fuel doubling in price, including cooking and heating oils, diesel and petrol, officers are determined to suffocate the black market that has emerged for stolen fuel.”

It is common for one perpetrator to be behind many crimes in different areas of England and several detained in North Yorkshire were from as far afield as London.

They tend to use highvisibility clothing, commercial vehicles and industrial siphoning equipment to appear legitimate.