Home heating oil thefts continue to rise

18 August 2008

Thefts of home heating oil have risen by over 200 per cent this year, according to police.

Forces across the UK have reported increases as soaring prices make the commodity ever more valuable, the Daily Express reports.

Sophisticated techniques are being used, with criminals adapting lorries to transport stolen fuel.

With incidents of petrol and diesel theft also rising, Inspector Simon Westwood, of the West Midlands central motorway police group, told the paper: "These types of crime are organised by groups of people going out with the specific intention to steal quite large quantities of fuel."

Trade body Oftec said that home heating oil cost homeowners an average of 60p per litre in May of this year - 29p more than at the same time in 2007.

Last week the conflict between Russia and Georgia prompted oil prices to rise, as fears grew that exports from the region would be disrupted.

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