Police advise rural communities to protect heating oil tanks

19 June 2008

Police are warning people living in rural areas to ensure that their home heating oil supplies are secure.

An attempted theft in Banwen, Neath Port Talbot, has prompted Welsh police to offer advice to domestic heating oil customers. According to the Neath Guardian, the incident follows a number of recent thefts in South Wales.

Thieves smashed through the gates of a property and tried to remove oil from the tank. In this incident no oil was taken and no damage was caused to the tank, but other thefts have occurred across the UK.

Global oil prices have doubled over the past year, increasing the value of supplies and causing a spate of thefts from heating oil tanks.

Detective Inspector David Rees of Neath Port Talbot CID said: "Due to the rise in fuel prices we are advising anyone who stores any type of fuel, whether it is petrol, diesel or heating oil, to ensure they have security measures in place."

Police in North Yorkshire reported 27 separate incidents of heating oil theft during the first four months of 2008, compared with just 15 during the whole of last year, the Ripon Gazette states.

A typical 1,000 litre tank of domestic heating oil is now worth around £600, offering a tempting target for thieves.

Click here to view home heating oil price trends.