The UK's leading rural insurer, NFU Mutual is advising those who live and work in the countryside to protect their heating oil and red diesel in light of the current cold snap, rising commodity prices and possible tanker strikes.

• Red diesel and heating oil crucial to countryside as winter weather returns
• Rising commodity prices and possible tanker strikes could fuel thefts
• £1,430 worth of fuel taken in average heist

The Office of Fair Trading says that around 3.6 million UK households have no access to a mains gas supply and 1.5 million UK households use heating oil as their primary source of heat. This makes it the most commonly used source for heating homes, especially those in rural areas.

"Heating oil and red diesel, typically used by farmers to power tractors working the land, are both essential in the countryside. We find that whenever the price of a commodity goes up rural thieves very quickly respond by targeting it," said Tim Price, rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual.

The cost of heating oil has risen 10% over the last six months, increasing from just over 57 pence per litre in October 2011 to just over 63 pence per litre at the start of April 2012. Red diesel has gone up 8% during the same period, rising from just over 67 pence per litre to just over 73 pence per litre.

Last year, fuel theft, driven by cold snaps and high prices, cost victims an average of £1,430 in lost fuel, with businesses averaging a loss of £1,743 and personal claims coming in at £911, according to NFU Mutual.

Brazen thieves have also been known to return for a second time to steal replacement fuel, hitting rural homeowners and businesses twice as they fork out for replacement heating oil or diesel and clean-up costs due to damaged tanks.

Price explained: "Thieves will often damage tanks in the process of removing the fuel. Leaking oil or diesel can contaminate the soil and water courses and the property owner may then be responsible for any specialist clean-up operation."

Protect and Deter

To help deter thieves, NFU Mutual is urging members to consider using a number of inexpensive methods. Moving tanks to secure locations, planting shrubs and erecting fences to hide exposed tanks, installing a locking cap to tanks, checking fuel levels on a regular basis and working with other residents and businesses in local watch schemes can be effective.

The increase in rural crime in recent years has led NFU Mutual to launch a nationwide crime prevention drive – Country Crime Fighters Awards. The competition aims to find and reward individuals and community groups for their efforts to protect countryside communities.

In a bid to encourage vigilance among rural residents, the Awards which are open until May 8, will share key learnings from successful anti-crime schemes including several to reduce fuel theft.

For more information about the awards visit: www.nfumutual.co.uk/crimefighters