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.