‘BRAZEN’ thieves are filling up and driving off without paying because of high prices at the pumps, as one manager explores ways to stop them including new cameras.
Phil Marsh, manager of Clerkenleap Service Station, said fuel thefts have gone up by three times at his service station off the A38 Bath Road in Worcester.
The 68-year-old said it is a pattern replicated across the country because of high prices caused by the US war with Iran and the pressures of cost of living.
West Mercia Police did not have any available figures about a rise in fuel thefts in Worcestershire or provide a statement on what they were doing to tackle the issue.
Petrol Retailers Association concerns over rise in fuel thefts
Mr Marsh’s views are reflected in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) which has reported a rise in people making off without payment.
Mr Marsh is now looking into installing ANPR cameras to stop people driving off without payment as prices remain high. Prices have dropped at some service stations, remained static at others and risen in some instances, making for a postcode lottery at the pumps.
For example, prices at Sainsbury’s Blackpole in Worcester remain the same as they were on April 10 – 153.9p for unleaded and 190.9p for diesel after earlier rises.
In contrast, prices fell at Bransford Fuel Express Automat (Gulf) on the A4103, one of the cheaper garages locally, is charging 148.9p for unleaded and 189.7p for diesel ( a fall from 151.7p and 185.7p on April 10).
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However, some prices have gone up – Lower Wick SF Connect is now charging 196.9p for diesel compared to 195.9p a fortnight ago (although the cost of unleaded remains static at 158.9p).
Though Mr Marsh did not have figures on the number of incidents to hand, he said he had previously calculated that thefts of fuel had increased by three times when compared to this time last year (April 1 to April 21) at Clerkenleap and other filling stations will report similar rises.
Are ANPR cameras the way forward?
He said: “It’s increasing everywhere. It’s really annoying and, as the owners, we have to pay for our own fuel as well. It’s difficult to stop. ANPR cameras are something we are looking to invest in.
“If they have done it before, an alert comes up at the tills. We are actively exploring measures that we can put in place that will make it more difficult to steal fuel. People are stealing more fuel – and there’s more people doing it for larger amounts. They’re just getting more brazen, more needy.”
Leza Stephenson, manager of Tolladine Service Station, said ANPR would be too expensive for them to install and added: “It’s not just people who drive off, it’s people who come in the shop offering to pay, then can’t pay. That’s not a criminal offence at the moment if they offer to pay. The law needs to change to stop that,” she said
Meanwhile, the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) has raised fresh concerns over a sharp rise in fuel theft across UK forecourts, as increasing pump prices continue to put pressure on motorists and retailers alike.
New evidence from Forecourt Eye points to a growing number of incidents involving both “making off without payment” and cases where customers report having no means to pay. The data suggests that a proportion of these incidents involve first-time offenders, reflecting wider financial pressures being felt by households.
Gordon Balmer, executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association, said: ‘The increase in pump prices has been matched by a rise in motorists driving off without paying or claiming they have no means to pay.
“While we recognise the financial pressures many households are facing, this behaviour is having a direct and immediate impact on forecourt operators.”
A steep rise last month in the annual rate of inflation for petrol, diesel and air fares helped push up the UK’s overall rate to 3.3 per cent – though prices did ease for a handful of items, including clothing and some electrical goods.