LONDON: Petrol stations across the United Kingdom are losing an estimated £200,000 worth of fuel every day as thefts have risen sharply amid higher fuel prices, according to industry data.
Analysis by fuel theft prevention company Forecourt Eye found that incidents of drivers leaving petrol stations without paying increased by 20% in the five months following the onset of the Iran-related fuel crisis, compared with the previous five-month period.
The company said higher fuel prices have pushed the daily value of stolen petrol up by 48% to an average of £194,000 across the UK’s 8,359 petrol stations.
Forecourt Eye reported a 23% increase in first-time fuel theft offenders, while repeat offenders rose by between 17% and 20%. The volume of stolen fuel also increased by 26%, based on reports from 550 representative petrol stations nationwide.
Average petrol prices have climbed to around 160 pence per litre, up 27 pence from pre-crisis levels, while diesel prices have reached 179 pence per litre, an increase of 37 pence.
To help tackle the problem, Forecourt Eye said it will provide free anti-theft technology to customers, including a facial recognition alert system designed to identify suspected fuel thieves.
Petrol Retailers Association Executive Director Gordon Balmer said incidents of abuse against petrol station staff have also increased, despite employees having no control over rising fuel prices.
