Petrol theft has risen sharply in Britain, in keeping with new knowledge, and it may very well be all the way down to “systematic criminal activity”.
Figures gathered by the RAC Foundation present there have been 39,563 incidents between July and September this 12 months – a 77% rise from 22,335 over the identical interval final 12 months.
That’s additionally a fourfold enhance from 8,558 incidents in these three months in 2019.
The British Oil Security Syndicate – which campaigns to scale back crime on forecourts – estimates these incidents value filling stations a mean of £10,500 every per 12 months.
Most of the incidents are more likely to relate to drive-offs – additionally known as bilking – when somebody fills up their car with out paying, after which leaves.
Drivers convicted of constructing off with out cost, which is an offence beneath the Theft Act 1978, face a most penalty of two years in jail and/or a vast superb.
RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding stated the figures come as “no surprise” and may “only hint at a bigger issue”.
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“While it may be that the cost of living crisis is tempting some people to risk driving off without paying, the real headache for fuel suppliers is if this is a sign of more systematic criminal activity,” he added.
“The message to anyone tempted to bilk the service station must be ‘don’t fill up if you can’t pay up’ because getting caught is a real possibility, and financial losses to companies ultimately lead to higher prices for us all.”
Source: information.sky.com”