Pumped up prices fuel forecourt crime

Driving off without paying is costing Britain’s petrol stations a whooping £28m a year.

Figures from the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) shows losses from forecourt crime rose by 13% last year.

The average value of driving off without paying incidents was £35.

Kevin Eastwood, executive director of BOSS, said: "Crime on forecourts remains at unacceptable levels. Increased fuel cost has made petrol stations a target for theft."

Key in the fight against service station crime is the BOSS Forecourt Watch scheme, currently operating in 70 areas across Britain. 

In Bradford, forecourt criminals are to be targeted by a new joint initiative between West Yorkshire Police, Crimestoppers and the garage and petrol retailers.

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'Name, Shame and Claim' aims to reduce crime committed on garage forecourts by offering rewards to those who report the people responsible.

All 54 filling stations across the Bradford district are supporting the campaign and will be displaying the 'Name, Shame and Claim' posters urging people to report those responsible for forecourt crime.

Crime Reduction Officer Jacquie Thomas from West Yorkshire Police said: "Many organised criminals have converted cars and even vans to hold large tanks in the back which they then fill with petrol before making off without paying. The likelihood is that this fuel is then sold or used by other criminals."

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