Oil Tank Alarms

This CCTV Buyers Guide provides a comprehensive overview of deploying a successful video surveillance camera system in your business or residence. This guide contains information to help in the design of your video surveillance system, select the products that best fit your CCTV system requirements, and help make key installation decisions that will save you time and money.The information was derived from deploying 100’s of CCTV systems and gathered from CCTV call centers who answer questions from commercial and residential customers. This guide combines the data from past CTV projects and gives the reader a head-start in the successful CCTV project

There are many details to consider when specifying the correct CCTV Camera System. Professional Video Surveillance is not a cheap endeavor and a budget should be outlined and the best possible system should be considered. This guide will help the novice CCTV buyer in reviewing camera and recording system for their CCTV and Video surveillance requirements.

The first task in a successful CCTV project is to outline the key CCTV objectives.

o How many cameras are required?

o What are the key FoV (Field of View(s))?

o What are the recording requirements?

o What are the lighting conditions of each camera location?

o Where do I need live video monitoring or a second video monitor?

o How long do you need to retain the video files?

Cameras There are specific cameras that need to be selected based on the FoV, lighting conditions, and the mounting location of the camera. There is no such thing as a one-size fits all in the successful CCTV project. It is important to note each camera location and select the camera best suited for that location.

Answer these questions:

o Indoor or Outdoor?

o Lighting conditions (during day and night)?

o Mounting locations?

Indoor Dome Camera

The indoor dome camera is used in 90% of general indoor applications. It comes in a variety of configurations including standard color, Day/Night, and Infrared versions. It can be mounted on a horizontal or vertical surface but is typically ceiling mounted. Lens options on dome camera may restrict their use in certain applications such as requiring more than a 20mm video lens. Dome cameras are a primary choice in indoor camera locations.

Box Camera

A box camera is a standard camera that can be mounted alone or in an enclosure. The box camera uses a separate lens that screws on to the front surface and provides flexibility for different FoV requirements and is sold without a lens. An auto-iris lens will have a small cable that connects to the camera for iris control in various lighting conditions.

Outdoor Dome Cameras

Outdoor Dome Cameras are typically hard shell vandal-roof casings that offer the same versatility in a variety of lens options. Day/Night outdoor dome cameras are common in applications that have entry and exit points with limited lighting during the night.

Day/Night Camera

The Day/Night camera is the best choice for low-light conditions. The cameras are standard color during daylight conditions, the Day/Night camera switches either digitally of mechanically to a low-lux B/W mode.

Infrared Camera

During No-Light conditions, Infrared cameras provide infrared illumination of the FoF allowing monitoring of areas with no light available. Te IR LEDs are automatically illuminated and the camera switched to the B/W low-lux mode offering camera views in total darkness.

PTZ Camera

Pan-Tilt-Zoom camera offer the ability to view in all directions and optically zoom in as required. PTZ cameras also include standard color, Day/Night modes, and a few IR PTZ cameras have been introduced recently. The CCTV operator can set the PTZ cameras to automatically rotate to different FoVs. Options include Auto-tracking applications that dynamically track objects in defined areas.

About the Camera technology

Sony CCDs are the predominate video element in security cameras today. Sony makes few cameras, but they own the CCD market. Do not think that Sony makes the camera touted as ” Sony 1/3″ Super HAD Camera” as many vendors advertise their cameras. The camera has a Sony CCD, however the camera is not from Sony and could be almost any brand camera out there. Important factors of lens quality, vari-focal and auto-iris ability, quality of camera housing or enclosure, and lens optics are the difference in a professional CCTV camera.

Facts about Cameras:

o If you buy an $80 camera, you will get an $80 view.

o 480 TVL should be a minimum requirement in any professional CCTV project.

o Location of the camera and the correct lens are keys to quality video capture

o Cameras love light and thieves hate the light! Add lighting wherever possible

Camera Enclosure

Box cameras can be mounted in a variety of enclosures. Outdoor enclosures in cold climates should include a heater/blower that keeps frost and condensation from forming on the lens and camera. Heater/Blower are commonly 24VAC and should be considered when selecting the CCTV power supply system.

Camera Location

Camera mounting location is critical to the success of the CCTV project. Cameras should be mounted as close possible to the field of view required, and the closer the camera to the subject the better the identification of the subject will be. Proper lens selection relative to the camera location and the FoV required is essential to a quality picture.

Digital Video Recorders

DVRs are an important part of any successful CCTV project. Video resolution is getting larger, recording speeds are getting faster, and video data compression is reducing the video data file size. TeraByte storage capacity is becoming common in many CCTV applications. Network or remote monitoring of CCTV video is standard in all professional DVRs on the market in 2007 and video distribution across LANs, WANs, and the Web have given the DVR a new market outside of video security known as Business Systems Monitoring that allows management to monitor specified key business areas 24 hours a day. No longer just a security video recorder, the DVR has become a business tool for management with remote monitoring applications.

In order to choose the correct DVR for any application, the following questions need to be answered.

o How many channels (cameras)?

o What speed of recording is required?

o How long to retain video files (Hard Drive Size)?

o What features are important to the application?

o Where will DVR system be located?

o Remote monitoring requirements?

In choosing the right DVR for your CCTV application, ensure that you are determining the quantity of cameras needed now and in the next 24 months. DVRs come in 4, 8, 9, and 16 channel increments and this selection is critical because adding cameras above the DVR channels available will require an additional DVR, not just additional channels. DVR systems in large installations are segmented into 16 channels units and are monitored and managed through a Central Management System.

The speed of recording is critical to many CCTV applications. 30 fps (frames per second) is considered real-time video, therefore to obtain 30 fps for the application, 480 fps for 16 channels and 240fps for 8 channels is required. Many CCTV applications will provide real-time (30 fps) live viewing of video channels and 7-15 fps for recorded files. It is acceptable to have 7-15 fps for recorded files in many applications, but technology in DVR systems has pushed real-time video for the masses and 30 fps recording will soon be the standard recording rates across all channels as available today.

Storage of vide files is much easier and cost effective in 2007 than ever before. DVR storage at the TeraByte level is common and drives have become faster and more reliable. Retention of video data files can be managed by corporate IT departments as any business critical data and network drive archiving is common. All of the top DVR systems have USB ports for external storage devices and LAN-based video servers are common. A critical component of any DVR system is the ability to access the video files. The software provided by DVR manufacturers is proprietary to the DVR unit and the ability to retrieve files chronologically or based on certain security events is vital to the DVR product.

PC-Based vs. Standalone DVRs

Standalone DVR systems were the majority of video recorders sold in the marketplace up until 2006. Computer-based DVRs have become increasingly popular due to the cost and features provide in the latest generation of DVR cards on the market in 2007. The Windows XP PC computer is providing the reliability and performance in today’s DVR systems that are required for mission critical video security systems. The open architecture of PC-based DVR systems allow easy integration into corporate LANs and technology upgrades are at a component level. Software upgrades and hard drive storage additions are far less costly that proprietary DVR systems. Standalone DVRs are imbedded recording systems usually operating under Linux OS. The standalone DVRs are widely used in retail security sites and provide reliable video recording for 4-16 channels. Most DVRs on the market offer network remote access and CD R/W archiving.Computer-based DVR systems are reliable, fast, and have many advanced applications not found on standalone systems.

Video compression

MPEG4 and H.264 are the video compression of choice in 2007. In summary, MPEG4 is good and H.264 is better. The key to video compression is the resolution and the size of the video. High resolution video files are monster size files and video compression for storage and streaming is critical to any video application. Major advancements in video compression will be seen in 2007 and H.264 will be the codec of choice for DVR manufacturers.

H.264

This uses the latest innovations in video compression technology to provide high resolution video quality from the smallest amount of video data required. Smaller files will save bandwidth and storage costs over previous generations of video codecs. H.264 delivers the same quality as MPEG-2 at a third to half the data rate and up to four times the frame size of MPEG-4 Part 2 at the same data rate. H.264 is used in the latest video devices for High Definition video devices, BluRay DVDs and should be considered for any professional CCTV project.

Network Access and Remote Viewing

Network access is the ability to remotely monitor a video server across the LAN, WAN, or internet. A very important application for any DVR system is the ability to monitor live and access to recordings through remote access. Most DVRs today have a LAN RJ45 connection that allows the Video Recorder to connect to the LAN just like any other PC in the office.

Advanced DVR Features

Many CCTV systems are releasing advanced security and specialty software for security enhancements. These include:

o Object counting

o POS Integration

o PTZ Auto-Tracking

o Face Recognition

o Access Control Integration

CCTV Cabling and System Layout

DVR Location In choosing the optimal location for the DVR system, consider the access of the area for centralized control and security of the area. The DVR is the heart of the CCTV system and should be protected as necessary to ensure it is safe from theft or damage. If the security breach includes theft of the DVR component, all evidence is carried off under the arm of the thief. And the thieves know this, so ensure that the DVR system is in a lock-box or an appropriate secure area.

Camera Power Supply

Each professional camera requires either 12VDC or 24VAC. Both power options are acceptable and some CCTV installations will require both. Central Power Supplies are available in 4,8,16 and more channels.

Cable Options

Traditional video cable is RG59 coax cable. Siamese dual cable is commonly used that provides RG59u coax together with a pair of 18 gauge wire for the camera power requirements. The dual cable allows single cable runs to each camera for both video and power.

Cat-5 Options

UTP (twisted pair) cabling is becoming more popular with Cat-5e/Cat-6 cabling used in networks. CAT cabling is lighter and less expensive than coax cabling and requires balun connectors to match the impedance of the video signal. Coax and UTP connections up to1000′ feet are acceptable. A balun is used to match the impedance on Cat-5 connections on the DVR and camera connections.

The Successful Video Surveillance Project

o Quality Plan

o Quality Cameras

o Quality DVR

o Quality Installation

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Everything is getting expensive. Can you afford to slack on security?

2011 looks like a year that is going to hit us hard in the pocket, what with VAT rising to 20%, Utility Bills rising by 30%, Fuel at an all time record high and Food and Commodity prices rising further still.

And on top of this when we do outlay the cash to keep our day to day lives going, there are always some criminal minded individuals (We shall call them Scum), looking for the free ride.

Valuable commodities such as Water, Heating Oil, Petrol & Diesel are now being targeted by thieves for their own personal gain at your expense

Here is a Top 10 List of actions you can take to limit the ease of theft:

Keep your Heating Oil Tank secure by fitting a
Guard against water theft with the Innovative
Avoid Fuel evaporation from your heating oil tank in summer by fitting
Dig a moat round your house
Keep any Drums & Containers locked and out of sight
Hire the A-Team
Don’t lend the “Other Half” the car so they can’t bring it back with the Tank empty!
Buy a boat and declare the island in the middle of the local pond “Your Own” and bring in laws to say that theft is punishable by death!
Become a thief!
Subscribe to Guns & Ammo!

Joking apart, you really need to do all you can when it comes to security and here at Spinsecure we are here to help.

With a range of Unique and Innovative security solutions for Home, Garden & Business we have the product to fit.

The police are concerned and are investigating all incidents of heating oil and fuel thefts. Should any person see any suspicious activity they are requested to report the matter to the police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Members of the public should also be aware that fuel thefts may still occur. Such thefts relate to Diesel or Heating Oil. The methods used by the culprits is with a syphoning hose that is usually a long length of pipe which is often attached to some form of pump. The pump is usually kept inside the vehicle to keep the noise down. It does take quite a considerable amount of time to drain a tank depending of course on the size of the pump. Please consider using locks on the tank if it is possible.

Thefts of heating oil around Wales have increased by over 500% in the past five years, according to a recent article published by the BBC.

Figures show the equivalent of a theft of oil every day by the end of 2011.

The numbers jumped from 68 in 2007 to 364 last year, according to the statistics released under a Freedom of Information request.

So far this year thefts have been reported from the south of England up to Scotland, with one rural householder in Newlandrig, Midlothian, losing more than £1,700 worth of heating oil in a single raid.

Opportunist thieves who drive around the countryside looking for homes and businesses to target are also a threat as the temperatures remain low and the economic climate continues to squeeze people’s pockets.

Duncan Lambert, Director at Rix Petroleum, said there were precautions people could take to reduce the possibility of becoming victims of the oil theft.

He said: “Heating oil is a valuable commodity and all too often during the winter months it is targeted by thieves wanting it for their own use or selling it on the black market.

“The situation is not helped by the fact many homes and businesses targeted are in isolated areas where thieves can go unnoticed for long periods of time.

To help prevent Heating oil theft from your tank, here are some ideas of what you can do:

Make sure the oil gauge is secured correctly to the tank
If your tank has a lid design, consider fitting suitable locks and/or lockable valves where necessary and then ensure that they are used. This may be a legal requirement for some tanks. Your tank installation engineer or fuel delivery company will be able to advise you. Contact Rix Heating services for further advice: 01482 222250 or email us at maintenance@rix.co.uk
Monitor your oil tank on a regular basis. Remote electronic oil level gauges are available which will set off an audible alarm if the oil level in the tank suddenly drops or falls below a quarter full. These gauges can be located in the kitchen or perhaps a utility room to warn of any potential problem. Rix offer an automatic tank monitoring system, called Rix Oil Alert. Speak to us today on 01482 224422 or email us to find out more
If the need arises to replace your tank, consider where you position the tank and make more secure. But remember to leave clear access for the delivery man at the fill point and the gauge can be seen.
You MUST never lock or block the tank vent/ breather, as this will cause the tank to split and cause further damage.
Consider fitting CCTV to monitor the tank
Security lights can have a very positive effect and make any property a much harder target for the thief. It’s not always necessary to floodlight the area with high power beams, as a more subtle level of lighting may be all that is needed. Low energy “dusk till’ dawn lights positioned close to the tank should, in most cases, provide sufficient light to illuminate any suspicious activity. This type of light can be both effective and inexpensive.

Car Computer Diagnostics belfast

THOUSANDS of litres of diesel and heating oil have been stolen from tanks in 13 separate raids in south Cumbria.

Thieves have siphoned-off diesel from vehicles and heating oil tanks worth more than £3,500 in the past month.

Rural and isolated areas have been targetted by thieves, who police say are travelling in from other areas, leaving victims stranded, frustrated and out of pocket.

Cumbria police believe the ‘professional thieves’ come to the area well-equipped, and use vehicles carrying small containers or vans that have had their interiors adapted to store large quantities of oil.

Officers say the culprits drive around during the day to pick-out their targets, before returning at night to drain the tanks. It takes on average 15 minutes to empty a 500-litre tank.

Properties in Bowness, Arnside, Milnthorpe, Broughton and Sawrey have all been hit since January 3 as well as Crooklands, where resident Mel Lofty lost his whole winter fuel supply to the thieves. He was without heat for five days.

He said: “The loss of the oil meant we had no heating or hot water for five days over a very cold weekend.

“We had our five-year-old grandchild here and we had to rely on friends and neighbours to keep warm. And because there was no oil in the boiler, the boiler broke and we had to have it replaced.

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“It is not just theft that causes a problem, it is the additional trauma as I worry about it happening again and it has made me feel insecure.”

He said the thieves had done their research to find his well-hidden tank and said they had been ‘cunning’ and had not taken all of his fuel so he did not notice his loss immediately.

“This was not an opportunist crime – they knew where they were going and what they were doing,” he said. “People should not think that because their tank is well-hidden and out of view that they are immune.”

Terry Belshaw, Kendal crime prevention officer, said oil thefts occurred every year and added: “When the price of things goes up it becomes more attractive to theives and that is what is happening here.

“The thieves come prepared to steal and run well-oiled operations.”

He urged residents to check fuel supplies on a regular basis; put tanks in view of a house, link tanks to a house alarm and putt locks on tanks.

For free crime prevention advice call 01539-818787.

Homeowners urged to help stop criminals damaging environment

Criminals who target oil tanks do not only leave homeowners out of pocket, they can also leave behind a large clean-up operation and environmental damage.

To reduce this risk, the Environment Agency is working with police forces in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire to prevent pollution as a result of thefts from heating oil tanks.

Shaun Rowson, Groundwater and Contaminated Land Team Leader, said: “We are aware there has been an increase in the number of thefts from heating oil tanks across Lincolnshire. The police advise owners to be aware of this sort of crime, look out for one another and use deterrents. This is all useful advice.

“However, the one thing that is often overlooked, particularly where the theft of oil has resulted in damage to a tank, is the potential environmental impact. A leaking oil tank can contaminate surface water and groundwater and the cost of investigating and clean up can run into thousands of pounds.”

In a bid to protect water resources, the Environment Agency, as part of the Government Agency Intelligence Network, requested that police ask victims of oil tank theft to contact its officers.

Shaun said: “This partnership approach is working well and both Lincolnshire and Leicestershire police forces are now asking victims of oil theft to contact us.

“Being able to act quickly is vital to stop oil pollution spreading and, potentially, reaching important underground water supplies. We would therefore urge people to contact us as quickly as possible if they think there is any risk of pollution as a result of oil theft. This will help to minimise the potential impact on the environment, the public and the homeowner.”

In addition to reporting suspected leaks as a result of theft, homeowners should also inspect their oil storage tanks regularly. Poorly maintained tanks are a common cause of pollution and spilled oil damages plants and wildlife and can make soil infertile, destroying habitats.

Homeowners should take the following action to ensure their oil tanks are safe for use.

• Site tanks as far away as possible from drains, streams and ponds.
• Inspect tanks, pipes and other equipment for leaks, damage and interference once a week.
• Check home insurance – loss of oil or pollution clean-up costs may not be covered.
• Always notify the Environment Agency and insurers immediately in the event of a spill or suspected spill.

In addition, when re-filling the tank, it is important the delivery is supervised and the amount of oil being used recorded. This means leaks can be identified quickly, minimising environmental damage and financial costs. Underground feed lines can leak and they can only be identified before major contamination occurs by checking there is no excessive use.

To report suspected pollution, contact the Environment Agency on its incident hotline: 0800 80 70 60.

About
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics the price of liquid fuel has increased by nearly 50% in the past year and because of this many home owners are being targeted for their heating oil.

Stop Oil Theft is dedicated to providing help, advice and products in protecting your heating oil in the hope that you do not become the latest victim.

heating and diesel oil theft
Theft of heating and diesel oil has been a problem for many years and the police have noticed an increase in this type of crime whenever the price of crude oil rises. A rise in the price of fuel at the petrol pump inevitably leads to a rise in the costs of heating oil. This makes oil a more attractive proposition for thieves who are targeting fuel tanks at farms, transport depots and domestic properties. The thieves may be using the oil for their own central heating or selling it on at a handsome profit.

Tanks can contain many thousands of pounds worth of oil and it therefore makes good sense to take a few precautions to protect them. The purpose of this information is to give you a few ideas about what can be done to make life more difficult for thieves.

OFTEC or the ‘Oil Firing Technical Association for the petroleum industry’ offers advice and guidance for those who use and store oil at their premises. There are certain rules and regulations that may apply to you and OFTEC will help clarify these for you.

They can be reached at http://www.oftec.org/ or by calling 0845 6585 080. They also produce an ‘easy guide to domestic oil storage’.

SITTING YOUR OIL TANK

The position of the tank can have a significant effect on how hard a target it is in the eyes of the thief. If the tank is close to the house, with one or more windows capable of giving a view of it, then the thief may consider the chances of being seen too high. If the tank is close to a road, path, drive or alleyway then it will be a far easier target. Hiding the tank behind the garage, shed or some other type of outbuilding is fairly commonplace, but it does give the thief the advantage.

While it may not be desirable, or legal, to have the tank close to the house some sort of compromise location would be sensible. Of course this will not only be a major consideration when a new tank is to be installed but may be necessary if the tank has been targeted before. They do need to be within a reasonable distance of the road otherwise the oil supply company may not be able to refill it for you.

CONTROL SWITCHES

Control switches that control the flow of oil should be turned off and the electricity supply isolated when the tank is not in use.

PADLOCKS

A thief will usually come equipped with a limited range of tools to attack your tank so it’s worth spending a little more on good quality locks. Close shackle padlocks are the best as they offer most resistance to the most popular of burglar tools; the bolt cropper! Due to their design, close shackle padlocks have very little of the metal hoop (shackle) exposed and bolt croppers cannot get a good grip. Remember that buying a padlock is like buying a car. The more you pay the better the quality and the longer it will last.

OIL LEVEL GAUGES

Remote electronic oil level gauges are now available which will set off an audible alarm if the oil level in the tank suddenly drops or falls below a quarter full. These gauges can be located in the kitchen or perhaps a utility room to warn of any potential problem. There are two or three different versions on the market at the moment and cost between £70 and £100. Get into the habit of regularly checking oil levels so that you will know if you have lost any.

SECURITY LIGHTS

Security lights can have a very positive effect and make any property a much harder target to the thief. It’s not always necessary to floodlight the area with high power beams, as a more subtle level of lighting may be all that is needed. Low energy ‘dusk till dawn’ lights positioned close to the tank should, in most cases, provide sufficient light to illuminate any suspicious activity. This type of light can be both effective and inexpensive. High powered lights can be used but care should be taken not to cause any nuisance to neighbours or road users.

DEFENSIVE PLANTING

Defensive planting is nature’s way of helping to reduce crime. Thieves will not wish to force their way through or over a prickly hedge. The smallest trace of blood or shred of ripped clothing could help the police identify the offender. These shrubs can, if planted around your tank, provide an effective and decorative thief proof barrier. If you would like more information about defensive plants to protect your property contact your local community safety team on 0345 456 456 4.

SECURING YOUR OIL TANK

Following on from the defensive plant tactic, fences and walls can also make life difficult for the thief. A wooden or metal fence, trellis or wall can give significant protection to the tank, but it must be remembered that the oil tanker driver will need access to fill the tank! A metal or grill cage with a lockable access point across the top of this wall or fence can further improve security. The wall or fence should be as close to the tank and as high as possible. Of course a trellis could also be decorated with defensive planting. A product called ‘Tank Guard’ surrounds the existing storage tank with a metal enclosure. This sheet metal enclosure has lockable access doors to allow filling and maintenance and has internal anchorage points to fix it to the concrete base. A tank guard costs less than one tank full of oil and will last many years.

CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV)

The use of CCTV as crime prevention and a crime detection tool has grown massively in recent years. It could play a part in the protection of oil tanks, but before you spend lots of money on equipment make an assessment of your needs.

The object of this information has been to illustrate ways in which we can make it more difficult for a thief to steal heating oil. Nothing mentioned here will make it impossible for them to achieve their goal, but if some of the suggestions made are followed it just may make a difference.

GETTING IN TOUCH

It is important to report any loss of fuel to the police or any attempt to steal.
Telephone:- 0345 456 456 4.

If it is an emergency dial 999. If you require any further information regarding any of the above, please contact your local community safety team on telephone number 0345 456 456 4.

CRIMESTOPPERS

To give information anonymously about any crime in your area telephone:- 0800 555 111.

ONLINE

Visit the Cambridgeshire Constabulary Website: http://www.cambs.police.uk/

Rebecca Parkin
Naighbourhood Officer
Linton Beat
Cambridgeshire Constabular

The Oildefender

The Oildefender has been developed to try and combat the increasing number of heating and fuel oil thefts from both domestic and commercial users. Thieves are targeting tanks that are located in rural or out of the way areas where they are unlikely to be caught.

Once theives have gained access to the tank the oil is either siphoned out or in some cases, the outlet pipe at the bottom of the tank is cut allowing it to be completely drained. This causes damage to the surrounding area by oil leaking into the ground and is costly to clean up as is the replacement of any lost oil and damaged pipe work.

Main Features

Tank Unit
Easy installation
Battery operated transmitter
Transmitter tamper sensor
Manual test function
Ranges from 100m; 300m; 1km
Alarm Control Unit

Easy installation
Can be linked into a burglar alarm system
Internal audible alarm sounder
Alarm disable feature for refilling the tank
External wired sounder
output

Products are currently assembled to order, and will be supplied within 28 days.

The Oildefender system works by detecting if the inspection cap of the tank is lifted or if the oil level within the tank drops faster than it would under normal conditions. A wireless device with a range of approximately 100metres is fitted at the tank and sends a signal back to a small panel, which is located within the property. The panel has an internal beeper which is activated in an alarm condition to alert the occupant that there is a problem. It also has the facilities to directly wire an external electronic sounder, link it into an existing burglar alarm system or switch on an external light if required when the panel is in the alarm condition.

The Oildefender system can be disabled via a key switch when the tank has to be refilled.

Case Study / Testimonial

“We were asked to install a burglar alarm system for one of our clients on their farm after attempts were made to steal machinery and diesel. The system worked fine, but unfortunately on another visit the thieves targeted the oil tanks and managed to get away with a large quantity of diesel.

We found the Oildefender website and purchased one on behalf of our customer. It was easy to install, easy to link into the burglar alarm system and has already proven itself by stopping another attempted theft of oil within days of being installed.”

AJR Electrical Services

“A burglar alarm system was installed at our farm buildings after a series of break-ins, and diesel was taken; subsequently an attempt was then made to take machinery. The system has since alerted us to further visits, and is now an essential part of our set-up. It has proved to be very useful, since it has been installed in our office and machinery shed, where important pieces of equipment and machinery are stored, essential to our business.
After having had a significant amount of oil stolen and only having recently restored these supplies an Oil Defender was purchased and fitted to our diesel tanks, storing fuel for tractors and other machinery and equipment; it was then linked into the burglar alarm system.

The alarm went off on a Sunday night and we discovered that another attempt had been made at taking diesel, but fortunately they only got enough to fill a can before the alarm detected the change in levels. We have not had any further break-ins since! The system was extremely efficient and alerted us by telephone very quickly once the change in level was detected by the sensor inside the tank. The Police were very impressed by this system and we would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for this type of security.

AJR Electrical Services have done a wonderful job for us in locating this product, and successfully installing the equipment.”

7 February 2011

Police in Holt are warning residents and businesses with oils tanks on their property to be vigilant following two thefts.

Thieves targeted oil tanks, located in the rear gardens, of properties along The Lane, Briston and Wickmere Road, Matlaske stealing approximately 900 litres of oil between Tuesday 4 January and Saturday 5 February.

Sgt Helen Howes said: “This is about people protecting one another. We will continue to work with the fuel companies and the public to push the message through that oil is an expensive commodity and everyone in the community needs to do their bit to prevent thefts.

We are always interested to hear from anyone who might have information about fuel thefts in their community”

Crime prevention advice offered by Norfolk Police includes:

Position your oil tank to allow maximum view from your property – this may discourage passing thieves.
Use control switches to stop the flow of oil when the tank is not in use.
Use good quality padlocks, close shackle are often best, to secure your tank.
Buy an oil level gauge which will sound an alarm if the oil level in your tank suddenly drops or falls below a quarter full.
Use security lights to make the property a less attractive target for thieves.
Defensive planting helps reduce crime – thieves don’t want to force their way through or over a prickly hedge.
Additional security; a wooden or metal fence, trellis or wall can all offer additional protection, although the tank must be accessible for the oil tanker driver.

Anyone with information should contact the Holt Safer Neighbourhood Team on 0845 456 4567 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Theft of heating oil
Sometime between 12 - 19 August heating oil was stolen from a tank at a property in Bells Yew Green, Frant Serial 1812, 19/8/2011 refers

Everything is getting expensive. Can you afford to slack on security?

2011 looks like a year that is going to hit us hard in the pocket, what with VAT rising to 20%, Utility Bills rising by 30%, Fuel at an all time record high and Food and Commodity prices rising further still.

And on top of this when we do outlay the cash to keep our day to day lives going, there are always some criminal minded individuals (We shall call them Scum), looking for the free ride.

Valuable commodities such as Water, Heating Oil, Petrol & Diesel are now being targeted by thieves for their own personal gain at your expense

Here is a Top 10 List of actions you can take to limit the ease of theft:

Keep your Heating Oil Tank secure by fitting a Spinsecure Tank Lock
Guard against water theft with the Innovative Spinsecure Taplock
Avoid Fuel evaporation from your heating oil tank in summer by fitting a Tank Lock
Dig a moat round your house
Keep any Drums & Containers locked and out of sight
Hire the A-Team
Don’t lend the “Other Half” the car so they can’t bring it back with the Tank empty!
Buy a boat and declare the island in the middle of the local pond “Your Own” and bring in laws to say that theft is punishable by death!
Become a thief!
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Heating oil tank Rising fuel prices are thought to have partly caused the increase in the number of oil thefts
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Warning over heating oil thefts
Police warn on heating oil thefts

Victims of heating oil theft in Leicestershire and Lincolnshire are being urged to report the crime to the Environment Agency as well as police.

The agency said storage tanks were often damaged by thieves and could leak oil into any nearby water.

Cleaning up after a contamination of surface water or groundwater can cost thousands of pounds.

Heating oil thefts from rural areas across the UK have have risen by about 70% in recent months, police said.

Increasing fuel prices and the isolated positions of many properties are thought to be factors.

Police have advised residents to install tank locks and alarms, but the Environment Agency said the possible impact on water sources is often overlooked.

Agency spokesman Shaun Rowson said: “Being able to act quickly is vital to stop oil pollution spreading and, potentially, reaching important underground water supplies.

“We would therefore urge people to contact us as quickly as possible if they think there is any risk of pollution as a result of oil theft. This will help to minimise the potential impact on the environment, the public and the homeowner.”

WELSHPOOL Police are investigating the theft of approximately 500 litres of heating oil in the Arddleen area.

This theft has occurred some time over the last month.

Anyone with information or may know who is involved is asked to contact Welshpool Police on the non-emergency number 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Dyfed-Powys Police advise people with outside containers to be extra vigilant and ensure tanks are secured.

For additional information, contact the Crime Prevention Officer.

oil alarms

Thieves have targeted a church in Norwich, stealing a large amount of heating oil from an outside tank.

According to the Great Yarmouth Mercury, the oil was stolen from St Andrew and St Peter’s Church between Sunday and Wednesday of last week. In total, 1,200 litres of heating oil were stolen.

As well as taking the oil, the thieves caused damage to the door of a shed in the church grounds, which the newspaper noted will cost the church £50 to put right.

Many rural buildings such as churches rely on heating oil tanks for a power supply but often, their location can leave them vulnerable to thieves.

A Watchman device, which sounds an alarm when it detects a sudden drop in the level of oil in the tank, could therefore be a good buy. These can be purchased from local supplier Anmer Oils.

Local community support officer Paul McAllister is appealing for information about the incident.

http://www.emooil.co.uk/at-home/about/latest-news/05-2010/heating-oil-stolen-from-norwich-church.htm

Recently we have experienced an increase in diesel and oil thefts across Cambridgeshire. Investigations are ongoing and we have already had some successful results, in early August our force helicopter located four men who were arrested on suspicion of theft of diesel.

We wanted to give you some crime prevention advice about how to prevent you from becoming a victim of oil theft.

We have noticed an increase in this type of crime whenever the price of crude oil rises. A rise in the price of fuel at the petrol pump inevitably leads to a rise in the cost of heating oil. This makes oil a more attractive proposition for thieves who are targeting fuel tanks at farms, transport depots and domestic properties. The thieves may be using the oil for their own central heating or selling it on at a handsome profit. Tanks can contain many thousands of pounds worth of oil and it therefore makes good sense to take a few precautions to protect them. The purpose of this information is to illustrate ways in which we can make it more difficult for a thief to steal heating oil. Nothing mentioned will make it impossible for a really determined thief to achieve their goal, but if some of the suggestions made are followed it just may make a difference.

For more information about how to prevent yourself becoming a victim, visit our website at www.cambs.police.uk where you can find out how to secure your oil tank, make it more difficult to access with defensive plants, use of CCTV and much more.

It is important to report any loss of fuel to the police or any attempt to steal. If you would like further information please contact us on 0345 456 456 4.

Your neighbourhood policing team.

The police in Norfolk have announced a workshop which will see representatives from the force give heating oil customers tips and hints on how to make sure their heating oil tank is safe from theft.

During the winter, homeowners often fill their tank as they will use more heating oil to heat their homes due to the drop in temperature, making many oil tanks a potential target for thieves.

Customers in Norfolk can get their heating oil from a number of reputable suppliers such as Emo Oil, CPL Petroleum and Black Cat Fuels, who can also supply monitoring equipment such as the Watchman device – a simply yet effective device which monitors oil levels sounding an alarm if the levels drop unexpectedly indicating a leak or theft.

On January 28th, a mobile police station will be visiting Aldborough in Norfolk and officers will give security advice for heating oil tanks.

Tips include making sure a heating oil tank is positioned in good view of a home and investing in a level monitor - such as a Watchman device.

Police in rural parts of Hampshire have joined forces with farmers and the rural community in an attempt to trace stolen heating fuel by “tagging” it.

They are working with the Farmwatch scheme in the Test Valley to introduce a liquid substance which can be added to fuel to “chemically tag” it.

If it is stolen it can then be traced back to its original owner.

During September, free bottles of the substance will be given out to the rural community.

Colder weather

The initiative comes after fuel thefts quadrupled in western Hampshire last winter, police said.

By adding just 100ml of the liquid to their oil tanks and putting stickers on them, farmers, rural residents and businesses can protect their fuel and deter thieves.

Seven premises in the Test Valley area have been targeted in August and police anticipate there could be an increase in thefts over the coming months as people fill up their heating fuel tanks ready for the colder weather.

Ruth Harper-Adams, from Test Valley Farmwatch, said: “Fuel theft from farmyards not only has a costly impact, it also creates other huge implications, such as delays in farming operations.

“It may also create an environmental problem where tank damage is a consequence.”

A 22-year-old man has been charged over the theft of heating oil from a house in County Down.

It was reported that oil had been stolen from a tank at a house on the Wreck Road in Annalong on Tuesday evening.

Police arrested four men and seized a vehicle and a number of drums of oil. Three of the men were released pending further enquiries.

The other man has been charged with theft and going equipped for theft.

He is to appear at Newry Magistrates Court at a later date.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8548853.stm

http://melbourncambridge.co.uk/safermelbourn/diesel-and-heating-oil-theft/

Diesel and heating oil theftRecently we have experienced an increase in diesel and oil thefts across Cambridgeshire. Investigations are ongoing and we have already had some successful results, in early August our force helicopter located four men who were arrested on suspicion of theft of diesel.

We wanted to give you some crime prevention advice about how to prevent you from becoming a victim of oil theft.

We have noticed an increase in this type of crime whenever the price of crude oil rises. A rise in the price of fuel at the petrol pump inevitably leads to a rise in the cost of heating oil. This makes oil a more attractive proposition for thieves who are targeting fuel tanks at farms, transport depots and domestic properties. The thieves may be using the oil for their own central heating or selling it on at a handsome profit. Tanks can contain many thousands of pounds worth of oil and it therefore makes good sense to take a few precautions to protect them. The purpose of this information is to illustrate ways in which we can make it more difficult for a thief to steal heating oil. Nothing mentioned will make it impossible for a really determined thief to achieve their goal, but if some of the suggestions made are followed it just may make a difference.

For more information about how to prevent yourself becoming a victim, visit our website at www.cambs.police.uk where you can find out how to secure your oil tank, make it more difficult to access with defensive plants, use of CCTV and much more.

It is important to report any loss of fuel to the police or any attempt to steal. If you would like further information please contact us on 0345 456 456 4.

Your neighbourhood policing team.

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Home Insurance
Building Insurance usually covers the structure of your home and any fixtures or fittings, garages, drive fences, out-buildings. Insurance cover includes the cost to repair or rebuild your home if it is damaged .e.g fire, storm burst leaking pipes etc. Contents Insurance is cover for your household contents i.e. furniture, computers, curtains, kitchen equipment, clothing, TV computer equipment etc. It is the total value of everything that is in your home that you would take with you if you were to move.

North Wales Police are urging people to be vigilant following recent incidents whereby heating oil has been stolen on Anglesey.

Two incidents were reported to police last week and officers are keeping an open mind as to whether they are both linked.

The first incident was reported to officers on Friday 5th of March, whereby sometime between January and the 5th March, approximately 500 litres of oil was stolen from a tank outside a property in Tynygongl, Benllech.

The second incident was reported later on the same day whereby sometime between Friday 26th of February and Friday 5th of March, a large amount of oil was stolen from a tank outside a property in Bodorgan.

Officers are urging the public to report any suspicious activity, particularly any sightings of unmarked tankers or suspicious vehicles.

Advice:

■Fit a good quality close shackle padlock to the filler cap and drain tap
■Make access to the tank more difficult using fences, trellis, walls or defensive planting
■Position a security light which can make thefts more difficult
■Consider lockable metal enclosures to completely surround the tank
Anyone with information is asked to contact North Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers Wales anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Alternatively send a text message to 66767 or email – northwalespolice@north-wales.police.uk
http://www.welshicons.org.uk/news/crime/theft-of-heating-oil-on-anglesey/

http://www.boilerjuice.com/blog/heating-oil-thefts-please-report_12/