Oil Tanks - Oil thefts reach Devon

22/02/2008

Devon is the latest area of the country to be hit by a spate of heating oil thefts, according to local police.

Four homes in the county have been targeted by criminals, who siphoned off thousands of litres of the fuel from exterior oil tanks, reports the Express & Echo.

The news comes after similar crimes were reported in Northern Ireland, Suffolk, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire and Lancashire.

It is believed the thefts have been prompted by the steep rise in the price of the fuel in the past few months, as it now costs around £460 to fill a 1,000-litre oil tank.

Police have advised there are a number of simple steps homeowners can take to reduce their risk of falling victim to such a crime.

Moving the oil tank to make it difficult to access from the road, fitting it with a padlock, locating it in a locked steel enclosure and installing motion-activated lighting around the tank are all steps that may deter thieves.