Insurer warning over oil thefts

1 July 2008

Home insurance company More Than has warned anyone with home heating oil to ensure it is adequately protected, in light of a recent surge in thefts.

The advice, aimed particularly at farmers and those in rural areas, is to check home contents policies for the appropriate level of cover.

A spokesman, in response to figures from insurer NFU Mutual showing red diesel thefts had risen 30 per cent this year, said: "If stolen from a tank in the garden or a tank in an outbuilding, normally a monetary limit will apply. This will vary depending on the specific contract."

Police have been urging homeowners to be vigilant following the death of a farmer's wife, who collapsed after discovering oil thieves at her home last week.

Home heating oil prices look set to continue to rise, as the cost of a barrel of crude oil neared the $144 (£72.15) mark yesterday.

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