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Rural police forces are warning farmers, rural residents and other businesses that heating oil and fuel thefts are on the rise across the country. Police in Hampshire yesterday announced that oil thieves are operating in the county and advised residents and businesses to make efforts to ensure any fuel storage is secure.  

The warning by Hampshire Police, which follows on from similar alerts this week by forces in Wiltshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Northumberland, was made after heating oil was stolen from a house in Andover, the latest in a spate of incidents in the region.

Police said most of the tanks hit by thieves are not secure and are visible or easily accessible from the road. Chief Inspector Kory Thorne of Hampshire constabulary advised rural residents to “Check your heating oil tanks regularly and report suspicious activity.”

On Thursday, Police in Northumberland also warned that fuels thieves operating in the county are targeting vehicles, businesses and industrial sites across the region. Police said officers were mounting road-based operations to combat the thefts, but warned rural residents and those working in the countryside to remain vigilant.

Chief Superintendent Mark Dennett elaborated, “We are running a number of operations across Northumberland stopping vehicles travelling late at night, checking vans, flat-bed lorries and other vehicles to find out what people are up to and what exactly they are carrying in the backs of their vehicles.

“This action has seen a number of arrests made in connection with fuel thefts and officers have found criminals in possession of syphoning tubes, drums and other such equipment on many occasions.

“I’d urge all businesses throughout Northumberland that keep any kind of fuel stores – drums, generators and containers – to protect them. These are targets for thieves and in order to stop them we need your help.”

Police have recommended residents and businesses take measures to deter would-be thieves, including:

• For businesses, leaving any vehicles empty overnight and asking drivers to refuel in the morning, displaying prominent signs to this effect.
• Parking in well lit areas
• Parking vehicles fuel tank to fuel tank or parking in such a way that access to the fuel tank is difficult, e.g. against a wall
• Considering installing alarms and CCTV

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