We’ve all heard of fuel theft, but many of us think that means oil tanks in rural areas. It might surprise you to hear that actually, theft of petrol and diesel from vehicles is a crime that costs UK drivers millions of pounds, every single year.
In 2018 (when petrol prices were far more reasonable than now!) an enormous £1.1 million worth of fuel was stolen from London alone! Worryingly, only one percent of these thefts were prosecuted, meaning it’s almost an unpunishable crime. In figures estimated by Crown Oil, it was claimed that the cost of fuel theft to the UK was over £9 million.
In the US, some police departments are already reporting a significant increase in fuel thefts from private vehicles. With petrol prices edging to a ridiculously unaffordable £2 per litre, here at ChooseMyCar we’re pretty certain thefts will rise just as sharply as prices.
But there’s good news! There are some simple ways you can protect yourself , your vehicle, and your pocket from fuel theft. Here’s our top tips to keep you safe from this apparently common crime.
1. Secure the area where your car is parked
If you have a garage to park in overnight, you should be safe. But for those of us who don’t have that luxury, consider how to secure the area in which your vehicle is parked. If possible, park in well lit areas where criminals would not be able to go unnoticed. If that’s not possible, consider installing security lighting or motion sensors.
2. Practice defensive parking
It sounds counterintuitive to those of us who care about our paintwork, but parking
Close to over vehicles seriously limits a criminal’s ability to syphon off your fuel. Where it’s safe, park close to a wall or another vehicle for the best chance to avoid fuel theft. At the very least, make sure your fuel cap side is parked on the side of the road as opposed to the pavement.
3. Fit a lockable filler cap
Although some thieves may get around this, having a lockable filler cap is a quick way to seriously deter fuel theft. Just make sure you keep it locked!
4. Install some sort of alarm system
This could be a full scale car alarm, a fuel level or alarm, or something as similar as laying gravel where you usually park at home. Noise deterrents are particularly effective as syphoning off fuel takes time, unlike a theft from inside a vehicle or even the theft of the vehicle itself.
5. Think about installing CCTV
New systems such as Nest make this surprisingly easy – practically and on the pocket. Camera systems are essential to prevent crime and to catch criminals – so it’s worth doing not just for fuel theft but for wider vehicle and property crime.
6. Consider whether you need to take that trip in your car
If it’s just a short trip, or one you could take on public transport, consider whether you need to take your car at all. If your car is safe at home, do what you can to leave it there. It’ll also help you keep those petrol costs down!
We hope these help you out, and, as ever, if you do see any suspicious activity or lose any fuel yourself, get in touch with your local police department.
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