Heating Oil thefts - Please report!

Posted by: david littlechild on 27 Jun 2008 at 9:11am

Oil stollen last September. Value of theft and damage to pipe and boiler £850.00.
thiefs broak the conecting pipe from boiler to house. Took some oil and left the tap open releasing approximately 1700 litrs into the soil.
As we live near the Broads the removal of contaminated soil will cost the insurance company between £18 - £20K!!!!!!

Still ongoing.

Police interest? Absolutely NIL!!

Posted by: The Seprini Family on 19 Jun 2008 at 5:26pm

Our oil was stolen a couple of years ago, on New Years Eve, just a week after delivery. They got in over the neighbours fence. We have been advised not to padlock the tank because the mindless idiots will puncture the side of it. They got away with 1000 litres. Bless 'em.
We live in a small village called Old Somerby and, naturally, no one saw or heard anything. Three other families were targeted in the same village in just a few days.

Posted by: Mr Greener on 13 Jun 2008 at 8:22am

We must have had some 900 ltrs stolen, Noticed only days after a fill up ! of a thousand ltrs ! Seemed as if it was the same company of which filled it up in the first place?
Since then we had a faulty tank which split, Was replaced under warranty and the pumping out of near 900 ltrs again took minutes! Scary thought when the oil is only in the same plastic tanks ! Having CCTV fitted this weekend, So may have some pictures to follow ! Watch this space !

Posted by: Heidi Braithwaite on 13 Jun 2008 at 7:07am

We had our oil stolen in December having only filled up at the end of November. Initially we thought there must have been some kind of leak but this was checked and was found to not be the problem. When I spoke to a neighbour about it she told me that she had noticed the lid wasn't on her tank during that same week and that the level on hers was down considerably also. About 1 month later a local farmer was also a victim of theft. This all happened in Somerset

Posted by: coldcomfortfarm on 6 Jun 2008 at 9:16am

I've had two thefts, each 1000litres+, from a tank in a remote location in North Yorkshire; I know for certain that they were thefts because the central heating wasn't working at the time and therefore no oil was being consumed! Strangely, they both happened within days of a delivery ... when the tank is next empty/robbed, I'll be relocating it, which will make deliveries more difficult, and I will also ensure I only order deliveries when I can be there to see that they actually take place ...

Posted by: paul longley on 30 May 2008 at 8:19pm

Hi there, over the weekend of 17th-18th May, about 500 litres of kerosene was stolen from the village school here in Punnetts Town (TN21 area). We live very close by, but none of us heard anything, nor any of our dogs!
The tank is quite new, and of course, because of regulations, is out on its own in a wide open space, as far from all the buildings as possible! The old tank was inside a brick building, and totally secure, most people not even knowing it was there.
I think its time someone in authority realised that some of the 'safety regulations' aren't necessary, and others are a big step backwards.
There are a lot of tanks locally which are literally on the roadside instead of tucked away beside, or behind their respective houses.
Finally, a thought on how the theft is done so quietly. Several years ago, whilst I worked for a local authority, I was chatting to a friend who worked for the neighbouring authority. Pete told me that some toerag had been sacked for theiving fuel. What he did was hook up a tank in the back of his van to the inlet manifold. By driving to work, a vacuum built in the tank, he then dropped a hose through the floor and down the dip stick pipe of the underground tanks. TOTALLY SILENT TRANSFER of SEVERAL HUNDRED litres over some while ! Perhaps we shouldnt be listening for a pump type noise at all, but be VERY suspicious of any vehicle loitering, even if only for a short time.

Posted by: David on 30 May 2008 at 12:53pm

Yes, we have become a victim of this crime, I would suggest reduce the amount of heating oil stored, and top up more frequently. Locking the tanks, they simply cut a hole in plastic tank, which costs more to fix than the loss of oil.

Posted by: Suzanne on 30 May 2008 at 12:06pm

Our tank was emptied of just under 1000 litres of kerosene at the end of April. We smelt fuel and dipped the tank to find an inch at the bottom.
Reported to police and spread the word around on these scum of the planet!
We now have all three dogs roaming free at night, security lighting and CCTV. Oh...and have also built a seven foot fence around yard perimeter with razor wire on top!!! Let the b******s try it now!
Shotgun is also at the ready!
We are in ML12.

Posted by: Jon Ward on 30 May 2008 at 9:14am

We had about 500 litres stolen and there was also evidence that 'they' had come back to snoop around for other items to steal. They must have used a long pipe to drain out the oil. We successfully claimed on house insurance and have locked the tank's filler the best we can.
Location: Near Malvern, Herefordshire

Posted by: Gerry Slawson on 30 May 2008 at 8:50am

We had only just filled up our new tank with 1000 litres when we noticed that the top wasn't on properly - we thought the wind had blown it off.
Didn't think anything of this until about a week later we ran out of oil.
We have since had a padlock on but realistically this is no deterrent - they will still get in.
Oh to have gas in the area.
Our postcode is SY14.