Fuel crime wave hits Scotland

14 July 2008

A wave of fuel thefts has been sweeping across Scotland, with police in one area reporting that £14,000 worth was stolen between March and June this year.

Forces across the country have seen significant increases in incidents as high oil prices have made home heating oil and agricultural diesel precious commodities, according to the Sunday Herald.

Last week over 2,000 litres were stolen from a farm in Lothian and Borders Police jurisdiction, one of 12 thefts since the beginning of May.

Detective Stuart Higginbottom told the newspaper: "With fuel prices so high, there are more and more people enticed to steal fuel and the general criminal fraternity is getting involved."

The president of the National Farmers Union of Scotland, Jim McLaren, said that thieves drilled holes in oil tanks and left what they could not take to drain out.

Last month a woman in Durham collapsed and died after she discovered fuel thieves at her home.

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