Oil Tank Alarms

Police in south Belfast are appealing for information following the theft of oil from properties in the Malone Park Lane and Penge Gardens areas. Both thefts occurred on Saturday, January 9.

Anyone who may have noticed unusual activity in the Malone Park Lane or Penge Gardens area is asked to contact detectives in Musgrave Street on 0845 6008000.

Alternatively information about crime can be passed anonymously via the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555111.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/community-telegraph/south-belfast/crimebeat/oil-stolen-from-homes-14642947.html#ixzz0hoKkhUrh

Titan Environmental range of bunded oil tanks to be fitted with alarms as standard

In an outstanding “first” for the fuel and oil industry, Kingspan Environmental - the foremost innovator in the fields of fuel, oil, lubricant, biodiesel and Adblue storage - is fitting alarms on all its Titan EcoSafe bunded oil tanks, as standard, from January 2010.

This initiative by the company is in direct response to increased fears among householders about the growing threat of oil theft, and provides an added-value oil storage solution for its customers.

Tony Soper, Kingspan Environmental’s GB Sales Director, explains: “This is a major step forward for homeowners and for the industry. By combining the marketing-leading, bunded oil tank with our revolutionary Watchman Alarm oil tank alarm system we are, without doubt, offering one of the best options to oil-heating users in the market place.”

Householders living in rural areas now have to deal with rising incidents of oil theft. Unfortunately, most of these thefts occur at night, so the unfortunate homeowners wake up to a half-empty oil tank and an expensive clean-up operation.

As Mr Soper observes: “The Watchman Alarm instantly alerts householders that someone may be stealing their oil as it happens, rather than hours or days later when the damage has already been done.”

The Watchman Alarm, which is part of Kingspan Environmental’s award-winning Sensor range, uses a transmitter on top of the tank and ultrasonic level techniques to measure the level of oil in a tank. The level of the oil is displayed on an LCD screen on a receiver within the home.

In the event of the oil level dropping at a rate that is not typical for a domestic oil tank (more than 1.5 cm per minute) the receiver will emit a siren-type sound that indicates either a leak, or theft, is occurring.

Titan EcoSafe tanks represent the most advanced range of integrally bunded oil storage systems available within Europe. They are specifically designed to provide the user with full regulation and environmental compliance.

Between the 21st December and 1st January, thieves stole 700 litres of domestic heating oil from the storage tank of a dwelling in Pill Road, Hook, leaving the young family without heating during the subsequent cold weather.

The police are appealing for information regarding this offence and wish to remind the public of the importance of maintaining the security of domestic heating oil stores.

Anyone with information can call police on 0845 330 2000.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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POLICE in Londonderry are appealing for information about an oil theft.
Five hundred litres of oil were stolen from a house at Kimberley Hill in the Kilfennan area. The theft was discovered on Saturday afternoon.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police on 0845 600 8000. Information can be given anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Wave of Heating Oil Theft Hits Maryland
0 CommentsPosted by Charlotte LoBuono on January 25, 2010 at 11:37 am

Heating oil tank locks provide some measure of protection against oil theft. (image: oiltanklock.com)
An article posted on Friday on SoMdNews.com described a recent rash of heating oil thefts in Charles County, Maryland. Thieves have been stealing heating oil from Charles County homes and businesses in recent months, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said.

Police said that heating oil theft is occurring outside of Charles County as well. On Jan. 11, sheriff’s officers stopped a truck that matched the description of a vehicle reportedly used to steal an oil tank from a home in a neighboring county.

The officers found the entire tank in the bed of the truck. Charges are pending against the driver and passenger, as authorities determine if the two suspects also stole heating oil in Charles County.

The bandits often steal the oil in small amounts, so that the theft is more likely to go unnoticed. Authorities believe that the culprits drive trucks or flatbeds to the tanks and siphon off several gallons of oil into barrels or drums.

Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Diane Richardson told SoMdNews.com that, “It seems that [the thieves] were getting a little greedy, and stealing more and more.”

As the price of heating oil has risen since the fall, incidents of thefts have become more commonplace. Although oil tank locks may be a deterrent to oil theft, they do little to prevent the theft of an entire tank. However, as one might imagine, the theft of a heating oil tank is extremely rare.

Police encourage heating oil customers to report unusual activity near their oil tanks. Customers should also consider using hedges or fences to conceal their tanks, or installing security lighting.

Lockerley primary school has been the victim of oil thieves three times in the past eighteen months. The school reopened on January 4th after the Christmas holidays and there was shock and dismay when the realisation that there was no heating set in. The school tried to function without the oil on 4th and 5th of January but the principal took the decision to close for the remaining three days of that week. Hazardous conditions on the roads at the time meant that emergency oil supplies could not get to the school quickly enough for the school to remain open.

The principal of the school Ms. Ann Smyth told how there had been half a tank of oil when the school closed for the Christmas holidays but when they returned the fuel indicator was showing a level of zero. The school had to close again from the 6th to the 8th of January, but management continued to try to get more oil delivered. Eventually the oil company managed to battle through the snow and ice and had 1000 litres delivered on the evening of January 7th. But they were severely disappointed when the following Monday morning they found levels again at zero. It was pointed out by Ms. Smyth that the school had been targeted back in July 2008 but that the thieves had fled after being interrupted.

Ms. Smyth spoke of how they first thought that the gauge on the tank was broken but it was only when they actually climbed up to see the oil in the tank that they found the lock had been cut and that the oil had been stolen. The school have now had to increase security to try to prevent further oil thefts. There have been suggestions that many the tank should have a cage placed around it to stop thieves from reaching it. Police are continuing their investigations into these incidents.

The growing cost of oil and the global recession have seen huge increases in the number of thefts from oil tanks.

Getting the home heated up during winter can be very expensive. Gas and electricity are very expensive today, with no signs of prices coming down. Savvy people are changing over to oil as a home fuel though. And when this happens they have to ensure the tanks re always full of cheap heating oil to make sure they don’t run dry in the cold weather.

http://www.frontpagearticles.com/article-directory/03/2010/general/school-becomes-victim-of-oil-theft-for-third-time/

School Becomes Victim Of Oil Theft For Third Time

Thieves stole several large barrels of oil and bags of coal from a shop in Ballymena last week, according to a report.

A number of 20-litre drums of oil went missing from the shop in Main Street, Cullybackey last Friday, says the Ballymena Times.

Staff only discovered the theft when starting work on Monday morning.

Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone who noticed a suspicious vehicle in the area to contact them.

The fuel thefts come as rising energy prices hit the British public despite the fluctuations in the crude oil market.

Oil prices fell below $88 (£50.19) on Monday to record an eight-month low, meaning crude oil has now dropped 40 per cent since its peak of $147.27 a barrel in July.

The theft in Ballymena comes just a day after police in Norwich warned heating oil users to be vigilant over their tanks for the second time in as many weeks, after a

Oil Alarms

http://www.boilerjuice.com/news/906/Oil+stolen+in+Ballymena.html

Police in Florence responded to the Harmony Street Home of 85-year-old Ernestine Wright this morning, after someone stole 100 pounds of heating oil from her tank.

The community is coming together to help her buy heat to stay warm tonight.

Police tell us this is the third time this has happened in the past three weeks, costing her more than a thousand dollars.

Florence City Councilman Ed Robinson supplied her with enough heating oil to keep her warm through the weekend.

The Pee Dee Community Action Agency is trying to help her buy more oil for next week because she’s on a fixed income.

The Florence County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft, and Sheriff Kenney Boone has committed to his deputies doing more patrols in her community.

http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=409343

Between the 21st December and 1st January, thieves stole 700 litres of domestic heating oil from the storage tank of a dwelling in Pill Road, Hook, leaving the young family without heating during the subsequent cold weather.

The police are appealing for information regarding this offence and wish to remind the public of the importance of maintaining the security of domestic heating oil stores.

Anyone with information can call police on 0845 330 2000.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

http://www.themissinglist.co.uk/police-appeal/700-litres-of-domestic-heating-oil-stolen-from-storage-tank-pill-road-hook

POLICE in Ballycastle are investigating the theft of £150’s worth of heating oil stolen from a house at Meadow Court, Bushmills, on January 5.
Anyone who can assist should contact 0845 600 8000 or Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555 111.

Quintero responded to a report of a home heating oil theft in Cushing. Investigation revealed it was a civil issue and the complainant was directed to contact the court.

The RCMP are investigating the theft of a large quantity of home heating oil at a residence in Canso. Police say they estimate at least 500 liters of oil was stolen from a residential tank over the holidays. The owners of a residence in Canso had 900-dollars worth of oil delivered to their home over a three week period. Police say the home’s high efficiency furnace isn’t even capable of burning that much oil in such a short period of time. The theft comes after police reported a high number of thefts from residential oil tanks in North Eastern Nova Scotia last winter. Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers or the Guysborough detachment of the RCMP.

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is issuing an alert to citizens to be extra observant of activity near heating oil tanks after officers responded to calls in which heating oil was stolen from businesses and homes.
Detectives believe the suspects are driving their vehicles – probably large trucks or flatbeds- directly to the tanks and siphoning several gallons of oil - just enough to minimize immediate detection - before moving on to another tank. It appears the suspects put the oil in large barrels or drums and later sell the oil at a discount rate or use it for personal use.
On January 8, officers were advised of multiple thefts of oil from businesses in the Pinefield North Shopping Center located at 12562 Mattawoman Drive in Waldorf. It was later determined, based on fuel analysis, the thefts occurred between December 3 - December 17, 2009. Oil was also stolen from two area churches. Typically, the thefts
are not noticed right away because the suspects are stealing just a few gallons from each tank.
On January 11, Charles County Sheriff’s officers stopped the driver of a flatbed truck after noting the truck matched the description of a vehicle that was used to steal an oil tank from a home in a neighboring county. Upon inspecting the bed of the truck, officers discovered an entire oil tank. The driver and occupant were detained and charges are pending. Detectives are trying to determine if the two men could be responsible for the local thefts as well.
Although locking mechanisms on the caps of the oil tanks may deter a thief, it is difficult to prevent the tanks from being stolen. Consider screening your tank with fencing or hedges; concealing external pipe work; and installing security lighting. The Sheriff’s Office is reminding citizens to call the Sheriff’s Office immediately to report an unusual activity near oil tanks.
Charles County Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information about a crime in Charles County that leads to an arrest or indictment. Anyone with information about a crime may contact Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS or Text CHARLES + your tip to CRIMES or visit WWW.CCSO.US to submit a web tip. All callers remain anonymous.

oil alarm
oil alarms

POLICE are warning residents in rural parts of North Flintshire to be on their guard- after eight incidents of heating oil theft in the past three weeks.

North Flintshire district inspector David Roome said: “We saw a rise in heating oil thefts about 18 months ago and they have started to come back as the price of oil has risen again.

“There have been sporadic heating oil thefts in rural areas and we want the public to be aware of this.”

The police will be giving advice to people at risk and hope to supply special alarms to vulnerable residents.

“There are things people can do to protect themselves, such as growing spiky plants around their oil tanks or covering them,” Insp Roome said.

“We would urge the public to report any suspicious behaviour .

“The people carrying out these thefts will probably be in large vehicles to carry the equipment needed.”

Anyone with information about heating oil thefts should contact North Wales Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

UNIONTOWN, Pa. — It’s a cold-hearted crime that’s got humane officers in Fayette County hot under the collar.

Investigators are searching for the individuals who stole 275 gallons of heating oil from the Fayette County Humane Society shelter over the weekend.

“I’m so frustrated. I don’t why people do this to innocent animals,” says humane officer Theresa Linden.

The suspects gained entry some time over the holiday weekend by breaking a lock to a small door that leads to the heating tank in the basement.

The culprits siphoned about $500 worth of oil, which was supposed to last at least through March.

“We have to keep it at 65 to pass inspection,” says Linden who had to move about 30 cats and dogs to the rear of the building from another room that registered just 50 degrees.

The shelter is funded primarily through donations.

Linden tells Channel 11 News, “Half the animals have no heat right now. I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

On Wednesday, White’s Tavern in Uniontown donated 100 gallons of oil to the shelter.

Animals had to be moved to stay warm.

Police have no suspects.

POLICE in Ballycastle are investigating the theft of £150’s worth of heating oil stolen from a house at Meadow Court, Bushmills, on January 5.
Anyone who can assist should contact 0845 600 8000 or Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555 111.

Over 100 church-goers braved freezing temperatures at their Christmas Day carol service after heating oil was stolen.

Moneydig Presbyterian Church, near Garvagh, was left without fuel after the culprits struck on Christmas Eve.

They took a “substantial quantity” of fuel from the secluded rural church, which is about four miles from the Co Londonderry town.

The theft was discovered on Christmas morning but despite temperatures in the region dropping to minus five degrees celsius, more than 100 people sat through the annual sermon.

Patricia McQuillan — wife of DUP MLA Adrian — said the congregation consisted of all ages, from babies to those in their 80s.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/oil-theft-leaves-churchgoers-in-a-festive-freeze-14613903.html#ixzz0ccPHJkU7

oil tank alarms

buy oil tank alarms

Homeowners who heat their properties with oil are being warned to check their insurance policies and security measures as thefts of heating oil are reportedly on the rise say the Abbey National.

The Abbey National has found that about one out of ten home insurance policies do not have cover for heating oil included, which could prove financially disastrous should there be a theft. The price of heating oil has increased by over a hundred percent since last year, making it a valuable commodity.

The police have confirmed the Abbey National findings, stating that domestic dwellings are often targeted because they are easier to access than industrial sites.

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Major rise in home fuel thefts
Police forces across the UK have told Newsbeat there’s been a huge rise in thieves stealing heating oil from people’s homes. Farmers say there’s also been a big increase in the theft of diesel. On Sunday, a woman died during a raid on her farm in County Durham after spotting a man taking fuel.

Madeleine Harding checks her home oil supply near Chichester and finds £200 worth has been stolen

Around one and a half million people in the UK use heating fuel.

They generally live in the countryside and have no access to a gas main.

With prices doubling to as much as 60p a litre, it’s making it more attractive to thieves.

The first someone will know their oil has been stolen is when they wake up in the morning to a cold house.

It’s the same as most things at the end of the day, if they do want to get the fuel they will get the fuel

Mark Nolan, owner of Nolan Oils in Oxfordshire

Madeleine Harding lives with her six-year-old son, Maxwell, in a semi-rural cottage in Westhampnett, Chichester.

Her gate was tampered with during the night and thieves managed to steal £200 of oil from her back garden.

Even the family dog didn’t hear it going on.

“I’m still paying for the last lot of oil I had which should have tided me over till Christmas next year.

“So in effect, if I buy some more, which I’m going to have to at some point, I will be paying double.”

Mark Nolan owns Nolan Oils in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

A leading insurance firm says theft of ‘red’ diesel is up 20% this year
It’s a family business which operates five tankers and makes around 50 deliveries a day.

Mark Nolan is becoming increasingly worried about thieves.

He said: “The driver is on the look out all the time for people that might be following us.

“We’ve had instances where a vehicle tracked us for about two hours.

“We reported it to the local police but unfortunately by the time the police had got there the vehicle had driven away.

“Luckily we got some number plates but they were false plates of course.”

Stolen to order

Five police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have told Newsbeat that they’ve seen a rise in oil theft with officers checking suspicious looking vans at night.

The insurer NFU Mutual says claims for diesel theft has gone up by 10% this year.

Mark Nolan says homeowners should increase security in gardens

It seems some thieves drive unmarked tankers on to drives or gardens while some are more discreet using a silent electric pump to fill up containers.

The oil or diesel is then sold on for people to use in cars or to heat their houses.

It’s not just happening in Oxfordshire but across the UK.

Mark Nolan says you can slow thieves down though by installing security.

He advised: “Make sure your garden is secure. Make sure that gates are locked.

“You can also buy locking fuel caps which makes it more difficult.

“But, it’s the same as most things at the end of the day, if they do want to get the fuel they will get the fuel.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/the_p_word/newsid_7470000/7470929.stm

Thief ruins car after filling tank with stolen heating oil

A thief wrecked his car engine after he stole heating oil from a garage tank thinking it was red diesel.
The crime was uncovered after a garage owner in Longridge, near Preston, noticed fuel was going missing from a tank and checked CCTV footage.

On two occasions he saw a neighbour carrying two 25 litre cans.

Blackburn magistrates heard that a weADVERTISEMENTek later a police officer in Neville Street, Longridge, caught Christopher Eddlestone leaving his house with the same containers at 5.30am.

Roger Pickles, defending, told the magistrates there had already been some “poetic justice” in the case.

He said: “Ironically, it turned out not to be red diesel but heating oil and the consequences of him putting it in his car is that it has wrecked the engine.”

Eddlestone, 50, of Neville Street, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft and one of going equipped for theft.

He was given a conditional discharge for two years and ordered to pay £77 compensation and £70 costs.

Emma Keogh, prosecuting, said Glynn Stirling, the proprietor of Greenwood Car Sales on Neville Street, was alerted to fuel going missing by a member of staff.

When he checked CCTV he saw Eddlestone on the street in the early hours of the morning on two occasions.

Both times he helped himself to fuel and then went home.

Mr Pickles said Eddlestone worked in London and stole the fuel to get to work.

He said: “He knows he has been incredibly stupid.”

oil tank alarm

Dyfed-Powys Police say there is an increase in heating oil theft from domestic and farmyard tanks.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7423834.stm

oil tank alarm

Concern has been expressed over a spate of oil thefts from commercial companies in Worcestershire.
Last week, a company in Worcester was left with a major clean-up operation after the theft from its premises.

The Environment Agency said a separate incident in Stourport-on-Severn could have caused serious pollution.

The agency says new regulations over storing oil at commercial premises will make it harder for thieves to get hold of fuel.

The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations, which comes into force in September, will require companies to make their oil storage more secure and also provide a higher level of pollution protection.

Michael Morris, from the Environment Agency, said the thefts in Worcestershire had caused large spillages of oil.

“In one of these incidents oil entered drains.

“The company involved had to spend a considerable amount of money using specialist contractors to clean out the drains to prevent the oil getting washed into the nearby River Severn.”

West Mercia Police have also issued a warning to businesses to tighten security to prevent environmental damage.

A police spokesperson said: “Fuel thieves are not and never will be concerned with the actual, or potential, environmental damage involved in their crimes.

“We would, therefore, urge all individuals and organisations who store diesel oil, whether at domestic or business premises, to re-examine their individual levels of security and act accordingly now and not wait until the new regulations come into force in September.”

Isle of Man

Crackdown on domestic oil thefts - Oil Tank Alarm
Police on the Isle of Man are cracking down on the growing problem of domestic oil theft.
Officers believe commercial vehicles are being used to transport the oil by organised and

determined criminals.

Police have said thefts have been increasing over the last two months, especially in the

Ballasalla and Port Erin areas and usually overnight.

Any vehicles which could be used to transport stolen oil are to be stopped and searched by

police.

Up to 700 litres of oil are being taken at a time, according to detectives.

Householders are being urged to make life difficult for the thieves by locking tanks and

checking oil levels on a regular basis.

Police in rural areas are warning of a big increase in heating oil thefts from domestic storage tanks.

Officers say with the rise in energy costs thieves are targeting homes “on an almost industrial scale”.

Last year, 17 such thefts were reported in the Dyfed-Powys area but the force has already had 59 incidents this year.

Dilys Jones, 82, from Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, was one of those affected and had nearly £400 worth of fuel stolen from her tank.

Police said they were used to tackling diesel thefts from farms and rural businesses but the rise in heating oil theft from domestic residences on such a scale was new.

Mrs Jones said: “It has cost me £329 which I’ve got to pay extra.

I have cried over it because I was left thinking how am I going to live

Dilys Jones

“I’m 82-years-old, I’m diabetic, disabled, it’s very upsetting.

“I know of two others in the area.

“I just have not got the money to pay for it.

“I have cried over it because I was left thinking how am I going to live?”

Brian Walters of the Farmers’ Union of Wales said: “We’ve had reports to us that there have been losses [of diesel and domestic heating oil] in the last few weeks.

“It’s a worrying trend because the price of diesel and oil has gone up so much in the last few months.”

Pembrokeshire crime prevention officer Max Bevan said: “Officers are carrying increased stop checks of vans moving about at night and we have found people who are stealing on an almost industrial scale.

“But we would urge the public if you see anything suspicious ring it in there and then.”