Oil prices have been fluctuating a great deal in 2013, but unfortunately heating oil theft has stayed at a high rate and becoming increasingly common in certain areas of the UK.
Some of the worst affected areas have been in rural areas around Swindon, Gloucestershire, Sussex, Hampshire, Montgomeryshire, Devon and Cornwall and Essex. In Essex in particular, over 61 homes have been raided in 2013 and around £27,964 of heating oil was reported stolen by thieves using drill tanks or sophisticated equipment.
These thefts have left multiple residents without any heating oil and police are upping their security measures as a response, alongside advising residents to increase their security on and in the vicinity of the tanks, such as padlocks or fencing.
Wealden District Commander chief inespector Dick Coates advised "The location of oil tanks can be a critical factor. Ideally they should be situated within sight of your home, but not visible from the road. If tanks are visible, plant hostile (thorny) shrubs around your tank so thieves will think twice before forcing their way through a prickly hedge” (note, these should be a minimum of 760mm away as per the oil storage reulations).
For more information on security for your oil tank visit our Oil Tank Security page.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Warning to Vehicle Operators Using Illicit Fuel
The HMRC have warned vehicle operators to think carefully if considering using illicit fuel, which comes after an illegal filling station and fuel laundering plant was caught in Northern Ireland, suspected of selling fuel for just £1.11 per litre.
The raid on the plant carried out by HMRC officers and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, found a large scale fuel laundering plant with the capability to produce almost six million litres of illicit diesel per year. The other unit that was discovered had a storage tank and fuel pump which is suspected to have been used to sell illegal fuel. Around 14,000 litres of illicit fuel was discovered on site as well as 14 metal cylinders used for the laundering process and approximately eight tonnes of toxic waste.
HMRC national oils co-ordinator Pat Curtis warned that “Vehicle operators thinking of buying this fuel needs to consider where their money is going as this fuel is financing and encouraging criminality”. HMRC revealed that the laundering plant equated to a potential loss in taxes of nearly £4 million per year. In December HMRC said that fuel laundering in Northern Ireland was under control.
For more information on avoiding diesel launderers visit the HMRC website.
The raid on the plant carried out by HMRC officers and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, found a large scale fuel laundering plant with the capability to produce almost six million litres of illicit diesel per year. The other unit that was discovered had a storage tank and fuel pump which is suspected to have been used to sell illegal fuel. Around 14,000 litres of illicit fuel was discovered on site as well as 14 metal cylinders used for the laundering process and approximately eight tonnes of toxic waste.
HMRC national oils co-ordinator Pat Curtis warned that “Vehicle operators thinking of buying this fuel needs to consider where their money is going as this fuel is financing and encouraging criminality”. HMRC revealed that the laundering plant equated to a potential loss in taxes of nearly £4 million per year. In December HMRC said that fuel laundering in Northern Ireland was under control.
For more information on avoiding diesel launderers visit the HMRC website.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Hampshire Town Targeted for Heating Oil
In just three months, figures have emerged that approximately 10,000 litres of oil have been stolen from storage tanks from Romsey and the surrounding Hampshire area.
The police believe that the sudden increase in thefts in the area is due to the spiralling prices now between 65p and 68p a litre. There have been 15 fuel tank thefts in Romsey in the first three months of 2013 and even churches have been targeted on a few occasions. As well as Romsey there have also been thefts in smaller more rural villages in the surrounding area and thefts as far as Andover, who have experienced eight domestic fuel thefts in March alone.
Sergeant Nelson from the Hampshire Police has said that they are actively trying to catch the culprits through the use of forensics at the scene and seeking witnesses to identify offenders. Nelson also urged those with heating oil tanks to step up their security measures to deter thieves.
For oil tank security please visit Commercial Fuel Solutions.co.uk.
The police believe that the sudden increase in thefts in the area is due to the spiralling prices now between 65p and 68p a litre. There have been 15 fuel tank thefts in Romsey in the first three months of 2013 and even churches have been targeted on a few occasions. As well as Romsey there have also been thefts in smaller more rural villages in the surrounding area and thefts as far as Andover, who have experienced eight domestic fuel thefts in March alone.
Sergeant Nelson from the Hampshire Police has said that they are actively trying to catch the culprits through the use of forensics at the scene and seeking witnesses to identify offenders. Nelson also urged those with heating oil tanks to step up their security measures to deter thieves.
For oil tank security please visit Commercial Fuel Solutions.co.uk.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Technological Developments For Fuel Tank Technology
Trials for new advanced technology designed for the concealment of oil tanks has proven successful in Texas this week.
To ensure that the new prototype works on large fuel storage tanks, a coating technology has been developed in which large mobile tanks are coated and therefore invisible to satellites. Using a spray rig system with “new proprietary Nano-technology light diffusion coatings” has proven that an illusion is created to make storage tanks disappear from radar and satellite technology displays.
The development is a fantastic leap forward in technology that objects as large as fuel storage tanks can be made almost invisible to satellites, as we have been able to coat smaller objects has been around for a few years but never an object as large as an oil tank. It is thought that this technology will be affordable for domestic use within the next few years, therefore taking oil security to a whole new technological level as thieves have been known to use sites such as Google maps/ Earth to identify and target fuel tanks.
For more information visit www.castagra.com.
To ensure that the new prototype works on large fuel storage tanks, a coating technology has been developed in which large mobile tanks are coated and therefore invisible to satellites. Using a spray rig system with “new proprietary Nano-technology light diffusion coatings” has proven that an illusion is created to make storage tanks disappear from radar and satellite technology displays.
The development is a fantastic leap forward in technology that objects as large as fuel storage tanks can be made almost invisible to satellites, as we have been able to coat smaller objects has been around for a few years but never an object as large as an oil tank. It is thought that this technology will be affordable for domestic use within the next few years, therefore taking oil security to a whole new technological level as thieves have been known to use sites such as Google maps/ Earth to identify and target fuel tanks.
For more information visit www.castagra.com.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Gangs Behind 200 Tractors Disappearing
British farms appear to be under threat as more than 200 high value tractors have increasingly disappeared from farms. The blame is resting on organised crime and gangs who are believed to be making themselves millions from selling the vehicles on abroad or for parts.
It seems that criminals are defying the law with fake documents to cash in on overseas markets, with Poland as the top destination. The tractors stolen from UK farms over December 2012 and January 2013 are worth around £25000, a 35% increase in tractor theft compared to the previous months.
Clive Harris, a vehicle security expert from the NFU Mutual Insurers said “The sudden increase in farm vehicle theft is extremely concerning as in the past we have recovered vehicles from Poland as the market is strong for stolen tractors. However at the moment, tractors are completely disappearing.” It is thought that lorries can get these stolen tractors out of the country in a matter of hours, and the sheer number of lorries at ports makes it impossible to security check every lorry for stolen tractors.
Insurers have said the way to tackle this growing problem is on-site security. John Deere is now manufacturing every new tractor in the UK and Ireland with the Construction and Agricultural Equipment Security and Registration Scheme (CESAR) datatag security system, as well as a unique immobiliser and key system.
For more information on keeping your equipment secure visit John Deere.co.uk.
It seems that criminals are defying the law with fake documents to cash in on overseas markets, with Poland as the top destination. The tractors stolen from UK farms over December 2012 and January 2013 are worth around £25000, a 35% increase in tractor theft compared to the previous months.
Clive Harris, a vehicle security expert from the NFU Mutual Insurers said “The sudden increase in farm vehicle theft is extremely concerning as in the past we have recovered vehicles from Poland as the market is strong for stolen tractors. However at the moment, tractors are completely disappearing.” It is thought that lorries can get these stolen tractors out of the country in a matter of hours, and the sheer number of lorries at ports makes it impossible to security check every lorry for stolen tractors.
Insurers have said the way to tackle this growing problem is on-site security. John Deere is now manufacturing every new tractor in the UK and Ireland with the Construction and Agricultural Equipment Security and Registration Scheme (CESAR) datatag security system, as well as a unique immobiliser and key system.
For more information on keeping your equipment secure visit John Deere.co.uk.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Oil Thefts in Kent Prompt Police Warnings
A warning has been issued to oil tank owners of Kent from the police about following their crime preventing advice, due to a series of thefts in rural areas.
The recent freezing weather has obviously sparked home owners to fill their tanks to cope, but this makes them targets for fuel thieves, especially as “thieves might believe people are filling up oil tanks after using more fuel than usual during the recent cold weather” said Sergeant Alison Oates from Ashford district police.
It isn’t just homes that thieves have been targeting, but churches, community buildings and businesses.
The Kent police issued a series of tips such as keeping gates closed, having some form of security whether it is CCTV or lighting or a padlock, lockable cap or fitting. By taking security measures you are likely to deter criminals or at least prevent them from stealing much oil if they aware of your preventative measures.
Contact Kent Police on 101 if you spot any unusual or suspicious vehicles in the area or near known oil tank areas, or call 999 if you see a theft taking place.
The recent freezing weather has obviously sparked home owners to fill their tanks to cope, but this makes them targets for fuel thieves, especially as “thieves might believe people are filling up oil tanks after using more fuel than usual during the recent cold weather” said Sergeant Alison Oates from Ashford district police.
It isn’t just homes that thieves have been targeting, but churches, community buildings and businesses.
The Kent police issued a series of tips such as keeping gates closed, having some form of security whether it is CCTV or lighting or a padlock, lockable cap or fitting. By taking security measures you are likely to deter criminals or at least prevent them from stealing much oil if they aware of your preventative measures.
Contact Kent Police on 101 if you spot any unusual or suspicious vehicles in the area or near known oil tank areas, or call 999 if you see a theft taking place.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Fuel Theives Target Lincolnshire
Vehicles on a Lincolnshire industrial estate have experienced fuel theft where it is thought that around 150 litres of diesel has been stolen from removal trucks.
Clockwork Removals site was broken into between Friday 25th and Monday 28th January, when no staff were at Fairfield industrial estate in Louth due to it being the weekend. However this is not the first incident on this site that operates four vehicles and one trailer off-site, and it is Clockwork Removals’ second theft in the last five years.
Toby Swain, the Clockwork branch manager said “The thieves are going on a spree across the industrial estate. Now it’s just a case of patching up the fence and making sure the CCTV is working”.
If you have any information please contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 or if you are looking for security for your fuel please visit Commercial Fuel Solutions.
Clockwork Removals site was broken into between Friday 25th and Monday 28th January, when no staff were at Fairfield industrial estate in Louth due to it being the weekend. However this is not the first incident on this site that operates four vehicles and one trailer off-site, and it is Clockwork Removals’ second theft in the last five years.
Toby Swain, the Clockwork branch manager said “The thieves are going on a spree across the industrial estate. Now it’s just a case of patching up the fence and making sure the CCTV is working”.
If you have any information please contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 or if you are looking for security for your fuel please visit Commercial Fuel Solutions.
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