Fuel thieves are targeting haulage firms

8:16am Monday 6th October 2008

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A SPATE of fuel thefts has cost Hampshire haulage firms hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Thieves have been ransacking vehicles looking for fuel cards which it is believed they use to fill containers at petrol stations.

Hauliers, based at Eling Wharf, Totton, have been particularly badly hit and some say if more is not done to stop the thefts companies will go out of business.

One victim was Charlie Smart, managing director of Smart Transport, who lost £14,000 overnight when three fuel cards were taken.

He said: “This must be an organised gang. They knew exactly what they were doing and obviously knew how to make the most money out of the crime.

“It is hard enough to make profit as a haulier without this kind of thing happening.

I know lots of hauliers who have been hit.”

Closed-circuit TV footage site showed the criminals scaling the fence but they then dodged detection by crawling under the vehicles.

After the card thefts they went to fuel stations and filled drums with fuel to sell on. Since the raid Mr Smart has increased security.

Bill White, general manager of Eldapoint, was targeted by thieves who smashed their way into five vehicles and managed to steal a fuel card and net £10,000.

He said: “This is definitely an organised gang.”

Ken Jackson, boss of Southampton Containers, had about £15,000 stolen.

He said: “This is the kind of money the company can’t afford to lose and I know companies on other sites in Nursling and Southampton that have had the same thing happen to them.”

A police spokesman said: “Obviously we would advise people not to leave fuel cards in their vehicles or on unmanned premises but I can’t speculate as to whether this crime has become more common since fuel prices went up.”

The Daily Echo requested this information under the Freedom of Information Act but it was refused as the police said it would take up too much time and the report may not be accurate.

The police were able to provide statistics on the number of times people drove off without paying for petrol.

Between January and June last year there were 1,073 offences. This rose to 1,149 in the following six months before hitting 1,212 between January and June this year.