Home heating oil theft trebles in Highlands

31 July 2008

Police in the Highlands area of Scotland have recorded more than 60 occurrences of home heating oil theft this year, it has emerged.

According to the Press and Journal, the figure is already nearly three times the total number (22) for the region in 2007.

Chief Inspector Paul Eddington of the Northern Constabulary said that thieves were not just siphoning off hundreds of litres at a time from tanks, but were also taking small volumes on separate occasions.

The National Farmers' Union in Scotland's communications officer, Sarah Anderson, commented: "With fuel costs rising, anyone [is] a target for fuel thefts. We would urge farmers and the public to be vigilant."

According to the newspaper, home heating oil currently costs 35 to 40 per cent more than a year ago.

Oil prices rose this week amid fears that attacks on pipelines in Nigeria would reduce production in the country.

Click here to order a home heating oil sensor system.