South Yorkshire Police ask drivers to help nab fuel bandits

MOTORISTS are being urged to keep their eyes peeled for forecourt thieves comitting thefts fuelled by the high price of diesel and petrol.

South Yorkshire Police’s automated number plate recognition system is already being used to give officers a head-start in identifying possible drive-off fuel thieves as they travel around the borough.

But after almost 100 drive-off fuel thefts in the first quarter of this year, officers are appealing to Rotherham motorists to be yet another set of eyes in their fight against the crime.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: “When people are filling up their vehicles on a petrol forecourt and they see any criminal or suspicious activity, they are urged to note the registration number and description of the driver and advise petrol station staff to contact police on 999.”

The spokesman said that fuel is often stolen by groups involved in other crime and also warned members of the public that thieves often fill large tanks concealed within their vehicles during thefts — creating a serious fire hazard out on the roads.

Insp Nick Gaskell admitted that the rising cost of petrol and diesel in recent years has fuelled a rise in drive-off raids on forecourts but appealed to the public to help tackle the problem.

He said: “Fuel is currently a very expensive commodity in these difficult times, but anyone who is considering not paying for the fuel that they take will be robustly dealt with and could face a prison sentence.”