Heating oil theft rise continues

14 August 2008

Thefts of home heating oil and diesel are continuing to rise, as high crude oil prices push costs up.

According to the Shropshire Star, police in Mid Wales are seeing a significant rise in incidents, with Dyfed-Powys Police reporting over 50 so far this year.

Officers urged people to be vigilant, after a driver in Church Stoke left a petrol station without paying for his fuel.

And Newtown community safety officer Constable Gareth Slaymaker warned that heating oil is also being targeted, as prices have "been rising constantly over the previous months".

"This has led to increases in the theft of diesel from commercial vehicles and heating oil from storage tanks outside homes," he stated.

Insurer NFU mutual recently found that the number of red diesel thefts had risen by 30 per cent this year, prompting warnings to homeowners to ensure they are adequately protected.

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