General security hints and tips for heating oil users

Posted by: jean devine on 3 May 2008 at 12:17am

What has happened!!!!! reading through these comments is quite scary, the world has gone mad. We are talking about security lights, cctv, padlocks, guard dogs to protect something which used to be the cheapest form of heating our homes. It is beginning to look like the Armageddon The government want to stop being so greedy and taxing oil so heavily and making ordinary people vulnerable to thiefs in the night.

Posted by: tom evans on 2 May 2008 at 9:28am

We manufacture the Shadow bike alarm, after we lost oil I fitted one to our garden gate and yes it did go off after we topped up again.

Posted by: shug on 21 Apr 2008 at 5:35pm

Padlocks - use a heavy duty padlock, then swap it with a combination padlock on delivery day. That way you can leave the combination number with the company when you order oil, and change the combination after every delivery if you want. Determined thieves will find some way to get at the oil, drilling or damaging the tank if necessary. On the other hand any obstacle may act as a deterrent and cause a thief to move on to an easier target.

Posted by: Caroline Moore on 15 Apr 2008 at 5:49pm

We are a British manufacturing company that may be able to help reduce the theft problem. We manufacture secure stores in galvanised steel and galvanised steel mesh. They can be designed to your specfications, secure, easy to use, low maintenanced, can be relocated if required. We offer nationwide delivery and installation service. Contact Caroline on 01246 470996 at Securit GB ltd.

Posted by: Andrew on 15 Apr 2008 at 4:34pm

As a minimum ensure you padlock the access and outlet of your tank. Install intruder lights and an alarm to deter those who want to steal your heating oil. Think about "fencing" the tank in to obsure it from prying eyes, but remember the oil company still have to gain access to deliver fresh supplies

Posted by: stell on 14 Apr 2008 at 11:01pm

we couldnt find or thinkup a design for a totally secure way of locking the tank ,so ive brought wireless colour cctv camera with infrared which records to hard drive,it also switches channel on mini tv as soon as its triggered and sets of a buzzer (its also useful if fox is hanging around the chickens as well). it wasnt as expensive as i thought it would be and it also works out cheaper than having to fill the tank again after a thief has stolen the first lot.
ive also got security lights,and an aggressive dog ,so god help them if they try again.

Posted by: Mike M on 13 Apr 2008 at 3:24pm

One thing that did occur to me while reading up about heating oil price rises: Are thieves monitoring/tracking bowsers as they make their domestic deliveries? No one can mistake a fuel bowser as it trundles around the country lanes, and thieves typically cotton on quickly to where some easy pickings can be had. I don't know whether the police or fuel depots are aware of this, but it won't be long before criminals get wise to the oil price and simply follow a bowser surreptitiously at a distance, wait until nightfall, then make a killing.

Posted by: Jeepster on 11 Apr 2008 at 10:56am

It is fairly pointless to protect your tank as most thieves would probably undo/cut the copper pipework as this would flow faster than a syphon. One spanner and pressure fed, much less hassle and a handy stop valve at the bottom of your tank. I would favour the flood light as suggested earlier.

Posted by: Rouflab on 2 Apr 2008 at 8:26am

Original Oil tank filler caps can be securely locked as I have made a system that foils the intruder BUT the next weakness is the plastic tank the only way to be reasonably secure is to have a custom metal cage made to totally enclose the tank.

Posted by: Karen Bancroft on 19 Mar 2008 at 1:00pm

Our heating oil does not seem to last very long - we have 11 radiators in our house, have the heating on twice a day (Mon-Fri -total of 6.5 hours per day- weekend total 8hrs per day) and we go through 500 litres per 6 weeks - this includes our hot water - is this about right?
Thanks and yes our two guard dogs keep unwanted visitors away too.