Fuel Thefts Increasing - Take Action To Protect Your Tank

29th January 2024

There has been a notable increase in the number of reports of the theft of domestic heating oil and diesel from storage tanks and vehicles during the past 7 days. The reports have come from across the country including our rural communities.

PS20240120-1147 - 250 litres heating oil - Auchterarder

PS20240122-1488 - Full tank of diesel Arctic Lorry - Broxburn

PS20240119-2319 – Approximately 500 litres heating oil – Avoch

PS20240120-1066 – Several hundred litres heating oil – Scrabster

PS20240123-1148 – Several hundred litres heating oil - Hilton, Tain

PS20240125-0958 – Several hundred litres of diesel from Local Authority bin lorries - Alness

PS20240119-2193 – Several hundred litres heating oil - Kirkcaldy

PS20240123-2090 – 300 litres heating oil – Stornoway

PS20240125-2081 – Several hundred litres heating oil – Campbeltown

PS20240125-0897 – 500 litres diesel from quarry pump - Stevenston

It's important to put measures in place to protect your fuel tank and make it extremely difficult for thieves to target your fuel. Please find below some tips to avoid becoming a victim of such a crime:

* Locate your tank in a safe location remembering that many thieves use Google Maps to find satellite images of fuel tanks.

* Consider locating your tank behind a garage or shed and away from roads. Positioning it close to your business or home will ensure it's in clear view.

* Locate inside a security gate or cage with a good quality, robust fence or cage to make life difficult for thieves.

* Install an alarm Consider fitting alarms to external gates surrounding your fuel tank or to the inside of a shed or outbuilding that is housing the tank.

* Fit a fuel theft lock, thieves often come armed with tools so it's worth investing in quality locks, locking fuel caps and anti-siphoning deterrents to slow down the criminals and reduce the likelihood of success. Locks with a CEN or BSEN 12320 Grade 6 classification indicate maximum security (Grade 1 is the least secure)

* Install outdoor security lighting positioning your tank in the bright light is an effective solution worth considering. With the majority of thieves striking at night, installing automatic security lighting will help stop criminals from targeting your fuel tank.

* Install CCTV cameras on your premises to dissuade anyone from targeting your tank as well as catch a thief in the act, providing the police with the evidence required to bring those to justice who choose to ignore the deterrent.

* Put up signage to highlight the security measures you’ve installed can help deter those up to no good. These could include: Private property, keep out, Warning CCTV in operation, All vehicles are left with minimum fuel, Security patrols in operation, All vehicles fitted with security devices etc.

It is very important be be mindful of people snooping around areas looking opportunities to steal, especially in the days following oil tanks being filled up.

I am appealing for anyone who has knowledge of who is stealing and selling heating oil and diesel and where they are storing it, to get in touch with police.

Anyone with information about these thefts and/or wishing to report suspicious activity, contact Police Scotland on 101 or via the Contact Us section of the Police Scotland website www.scotland.police.uk/contact-us. If the theft is in progress and in an emergency, call 999. Alternatively contact crime stoppers on

Prevention Products to consider

The Oil Defender by Fuel Alarms Ltd – with SBD Accreditation (securedbydesign.com)

Watchman Alarm | Oil Tank Alarm | Kingspan | Great Britain
https://www.kingspan.com/gb/en/products/tank-monitoring/local-tank-monitoring/watchman-sonic-advanced/