Homeowners warned about oil thieves

18 September 2008

Homeowners in Somerset have been advised to be aware of the threat posed by potential heating oil thieves.

The recommendation was made by local police after a small increase in the number of such crimes was noted, reports the Bristol Evening Post.

PC Paul Morris, crime reduction officer with North Somerset Police, told the newspaper that people in rural areas could help to deter the oil thieves by implementing some simple security measures.

Among his suggestions were installing security lighting, fitting locks and planting hedges or bushes around oil tanks in order to make it difficult for criminals to access them.

"We are keen to get people to install these measures to prevent thefts as it may be the case that because of the cost of fuel, the number of thefts increases as winter bites," PC Morris added.

The advice comes just days after police told the Wrexham Evening Leader that some criminals in North Wales had equipped themselves with transit vans fitted with 2,000-litre tanks in order to help them steal home heating oil.

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