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/

http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/84474/heating-oil-theft-warning-after-river-dee-pollution-scare.aspx

PEOPLE in Wrexham who use oil to heat their homes are being warned to be on their guard after the River Dee was polluted following a suspected theft.

Officers from Environment Agency Wales were called to a stream known as Foss Brook, near Bangor-on-Dee, last week after the leakage.

They were able to place booms across the water, preventing any significant damage to wildlife.

The incident is thought to have happened after a theft from a domestic heating oil tank.

Lee Rawlinson from Environment Agency Wales said: “There are many people who rely on oil for their heating but we are dealing with an average of one incident every week in Wales.

“We want householders to check their tanks for any leaks, see if their oil levels have dropped quickly or if it seems they are using a lot more than usual to get in touch with us. We can then arrange to visit and see how we can help stem the flow.

“It is not only the effect to the environment that is of concern, but the prospect of people being left without heating in this weather. Replacing lost oil is an expensive business so keeping that loss to a minimum is important.”

The Environment Agency Wales also says tanks, pipes and joints, particularly on older systems, are vulnerable following a long freeze and leaks can be common.

The organisation is now asking for people to:

Check pipe work and tanks for any leaks.
Check the tank regularly for a sudden drop in levels.
Keep an eye on the amount of oil used.

Domestic heating oil can kill plants, harm wildlife, pollute rivers and contaminate drinking water if it leaks.

If people discover a leak or have any information they can call 0800 80 70 60 and report it.

Dyfed Powys Police are advising residents to look after their heating oil following an increase in oil thefts in the area.

The rise in price of domestic heating oil over the previous months has led to an increase in oil theft particularly in the Crymych area.

Police are urging both households and businesses to take a few simple steps to prevent them becoming a victim of crime.

In an effort to try and reduce theft of heating oil, the following points may stop you from becoming a victim:-

Check oil levels on a regular basis
If you have a plastic tank, consider erecting fencing around the tank
If you have a steel tank, fit a quality anti-cut close-shackled padlock
Consider installing security lighting
Dyfed Powys Police are urging anyone with information of people going out with drums and pipes to steal fuel to please contact their local police station via 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
http://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/en/news/2010/3/9/

In a Scrooge-like post-holiday maneuver, a burglar stole 275 gallons of heating oil from the Fayette County Humane Society in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. The local press, which dubbed the act a “cold-hearted crime,” said the thief took what amounts to roughly $500 worth of oil, leaving some 30 dogs and cats in chilly 50-degree surroundings, down from the shelter’s standard of 65 degrees.

Sadly, this crime is not entirely unique. Early last month an elderly North Carolina woman was robbed of her home heating oil when someone emptied her 200-gallon tank. And, in September 2009, another heating oil theft took place in Central Pennsylvania. Though heating oil theft is not commonplace, the soaring price of crude has caused an uptick in the crime, which, before 2008, was nearly nonexistent. For more on heating oil crimes, see our report on the trend.

Heating oil theft foiled

Spaldwick is a small village in England, with a little over 500 residents, “a service station, a school, a church, a beauty salon and a pub.” That doesn’t mean it’s free of troubles, though. Local constables recently arrested four people for the theft of domestic heating oil, and are now holding them in the police station of the nearby town of Huntingdon.

But they couldn’t have done it without the help of their trusted police dog, Guinness. A burglary was reported just before 4:00 am, and while officers searched the area—finding two of the suspected culprits in a van—Guinness picked up a scent and led his handler some five miles away to the village of Brington, where the final two suspects were caught. Town & Crier, a local newspaper, reported Guinness’ triumph on Friday.

In sum, three men and one woman were arrested and two vans, replete with oil tanks and pumps, were seized.

Perhaps Guinness heard of the heating oil theft that occurred at an animal shelter in Pennsylvania this January, which subjected already vulnerable cats and dogs to chilly temperatures, and took a special interest in this crime. Unfortunately, that shelter in Pennsylvania did not have a valiant police dog such as Guinness to find the perpetrator.

So whether you prefer the adult beverage or the defender of justice, heating oil users have another reason to say, “Guinness is good for you.”

WelshIcons

Police in Neath Port Talbot are issuing a warning to lorry drivers following a number of recent fuel thefts.

Thousands of litres of diesel has been stolen from lorries parked up in various lay-bys along the A465 between Hirwaun and Llandarcy.

The latest incident was reported at the weekend when 500 litres of diesel were siphoned from a heavy goods vehicle parked up alongside the northbound dual carriageway near Neath Abbey.

Police have stepped up patrols of the area and will be visiting the lay-bys during early evening to warn drivers about the risk of fuel theft.

Detective Inspector Dave Wright of Neath Port Talbot Police said: “We estimate that around 10,000 litres of diesel has been stolen from lorries parked up along the A465 in the past six months.

“These thefts are costing the transport companies thousands of pounds not only in lost fuel but in some cases, damage to their vehicles as well.

“This stolen diesel is inevitably being sold illegally so these crimes are fuelling criminal activity as well. We will not only target the fuel thieves but also anyone involved in the handling or sale of the fuel.”

Crime prevention surveys have been carried out at the sites and signs have been put up in the lay-bys as well as on the M4 matrix signs to warn drivers.

Patrols have been stepped up and police will be mounting high visibility and covert operations to catch and deter those responsible.

Detective Inspector Wright added: “People should be very suspicious of anyone who is selling diesel at cheaper rates and should contact police with any information they may have about the illegal sale of fuel.

“I would ask anyone who knows who is responsible for these thefts or involved in the handling of the stolen diesel to contact us.”

Vehicle owners and hauliers are urged to be aware of these recent thefts and are asked to follow these crime prevention tips:

Always use a locking petrol cap
Always try to park your vehicles in a lit area
Always secure your vehicles overnight, either in a secure business premise lock-up or a residential garage.
Of possible, do not leave your vehicle fully fuelled overnight.
Anyone with information should contact Neath Police Station on 01639 634300 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Why You Should Keep An Eye On Your Heating Oil Tank
Written by bmlengel on May 30th, 2010
It is easy to forget about your heating oil tank once you have filled it up. Your home is warm and this is one less thing to worry about. But you could find that if you do not keep an eye on your heating oil tank, that you could end up with a lot of problems. You do not have to be going out to check it ten times a day but a regular check can be worthwhile and some of the reasons why are below.

The first reason is that not knowing how much oil in your tank can mean running out at the most inconvenient time. This could be disastrous if it were to happen when the weather was really cold. If you have to order an emergency deliver of heating oil, it could work out quite expensive for you. It may also not be possible if the weather is particularly bad. If you ended up spending any length of time in a house that was freezing cold, you would not like it so that is why you should check your heating oil tank regularly.

And did you even know that there are an increasing number of thefts of heating oil? So this is another reason why it is a good idea to be checking your heating oil tank frequently. You could be having your oil stolen from right under your nose and you don’t even realise it. Frequent checks of your tank will alert you to the fact that something odd is going on and you can increase your security.

Not only theft is responsible for the loss of heating oil. Having this fuel leak out is not only going to end up causing a loss of money but it can also be very dangerous. Oil is a pollutant and if you notice a leak you should get the professionals involved as soon as possible. Checking your tank regularly is the only way to know immediately if you have an oil leak. If you want to spare yourself any of these problems you should take the time to check your tank frequently.

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Getting the home heated up during winter can be very expensive. Electricity and gas prices are very high and show no signs of coming down any time soon. Clever people are switching to heating oil as a fuel though. After the changeover they have to make sure that the storage tanks are always full of the cheapest heating oil ensuring they can always heat their home in winter. Heating oil suppliersmake sure the nations oil tanks stay full. These suppliers can be found all over the country, and, for example, will supply heating oil Penzance.

VILLAGE ANNOUNCEMENTS
East Norton Neighbourhood Watch
Oil Theft Alert 21/05/10

http://www.leicestershirevillages.com/eastnorton/

During the last 2 weeks there have been several reports of theft of heating oil from household storage tanks in the more remote rural parts of our area. Most of these thefts have occurred close to the Rutland Border but the thieves will be capable of travelling anywhere across Harborough District.

As fuel prices increase the risk of these kind of thefts also rises - as such Harborough Police would urge all our residents to review the security of their oil tanks. Below are a few tips which may help:-

. Consider the natural surveillance of your oil tank and cut back any shrubs or foliage which may offer the thief cover from view.

. Consider placing barriers between the thief and your oil tank such as lockable gates and fences.

. Consider fitting an oil tank alarm - these are widely available from many different suppliers - here are a few websites which explain how they work:-

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.

link

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.