Diesel theft has doubled in the UK in 2022, as thieves look to capitalise on the soaring cost of fuel at the pumps, according to rural insurer NFU Mutual.
Although final figures are not expected until the new year, rural affairs specialist Hannah Binns said the insurer’s latest claims indications suggest the cost and number of diesel thefts had doubled in 2022.
See also: Fears of post-Covid rural crime surge as cost claims soar
The latest reported incident was in Suffolk, where 8,000 litres of fuel were stolen from a farm on Valley Road, Newton, near Sudbury. The theft happened on Friday 16 December, when fuel was siphoned from vehicles and a storage tank.
It is the latest incident of its kind in Suffolk, where about 1,750 litres of white diesel was stolen from a business in Long Melford earlier in the month.
Suffolk police are appealing to anyone with information to get in touch, quoting crime reference number 37/79567/22.
“Extremely worrying�?
NFU Mutual describes the rise in diesel theft as “extremely worrying�? and has issued fresh advice to farmers on securing their tanks, urging them to “turn their farmyards into fortresses�? this winter to protect diesel and other fuels from thieves.
“The theft of this essential fuel not only leaves farmers with restocking bills, but can interrupt vital farm work, adding further pressures for businesses,�? said Ms Binns.
“As well as the loss of expensive fuel, thieves often damage tanks, leaving fuel running into the ground, where it can cause horrendous pollution as well as an increased fire risk.�?
Ms Binns advised farmers to look at their boundaries, entrance and exit points and ensure good perimeter security.
“Other measures include recording the number, location and storage capacity of tanks, the date and times when they are filled, and regularly checking levels,�? she said.
Where possible, the tank should be located where it can be viewed from the farmhouse, ideally within an enclosed compound with secured access.
“It may be worth fitting a fuel tank alarm to notify you of an attack on fuel tanks as well as joining a farm watch or rural watch group to work with the local community, to be the eyes and ears of the countryside and share sightings of suspicious vehicles,�? Ms Binns added.
NFU Mutual fuel security tips
Fuel tanks
- Record the number, location, tank storage capacity and the date/times when tanks are filled and regularly check levels
- Where possible, locate the tank where it can be viewed from the farmhouse. Fuel tanks located away from buildings or dwellings are more vulnerable if they can’t be seen by occupants
- Ideally, tanks should be within an enclosed compound with secured access
- Fit a fuel tank alarm to notify you of an attack. Remote electronic fuel level gauges will set off an audible or monitored alarm if the fuel level in the tank suddenly drops or falls below a defined level
- Make sure that the tank is suitably bunded to prevent release into the ground, causing pollution
Vehicles and machinery
- Use locking fuel filler caps
- Keep tractors and powered machinery locked up and out of sight from public roads and footpaths when not in use, to prevent thieves draining their fuel tanks
- Only fill fuel bowsers with the amount needed for the day and return them to locked buildings when not in use
- Check your fuel gauge is not showing irregularities in fuel levels
