An average of close to £200,000 worth of fuel has been stolen from fuel stations daily since the beginning of the Iran oil crisis. According to fuel theft prevention company Forecourt Eye, theft incidents increased by 20% in the five months following the start of the conflict on February 28, compared to the previous five months.
The surge in pump prices due to the war led to a 48% increase in the value of stolen fuel during that period, resulting in an estimated daily average loss of £194,000 across 8,359 fuel stations. First-time offenders experienced a 23% rise in theft incidents and a 26% increase in the amount of fuel stolen, while repeat offenders saw a 17% increase in incidents and a 20% rise in stolen fuel volume.
Based on data from 550 fuel stations, the thefts included instances of drive-offs with no payment and cases where customers claimed they had no means to pay after filling up. The average petrol price per liter rose to 160p on Friday, up by about 27p from pre-conflict levels, marking a three-and-a-half-year peak. Diesel prices also climbed significantly to around 179p per liter.
Forecourt Eye is providing its customers with free access to crime reporting technology to help track fuel thefts and other illegal activities. Users will also have the option to join a live facial recognition network to identify known offenders. Michelle Henchoz, the managing director of Forecourt Eye, emphasized the need for advanced technology to safeguard fuel stations and convenience stores as criminal activities become more sophisticated.
Gordon Balmer, the executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association, noted an increase in abuse and aggression towards fuel station staff, highlighting the importance of utilizing technologies to prevent crimes and support police investigations within the industry. Ben Lawrence, a director at Lawrences Garages, pointed out that fuel thefts are no longer solely linked to other criminal activities due to rising living costs. He emphasized the impact on smaller businesses, stating that failing to pay for fuel affects them directly, not just the larger oil companies they may perceive as the operators.
