Petrol Theft Rises Sharply By 77% According To New Data

Petrol theft has more than quadrupled in four years, as new figures gathered by the RAC Foundation show a fourfold increase.

The incidence of fuel theft has seen a significant surge in the UK, with new data revealing a more than fourfold increase in the number of drivers involved in such activities over a span of four years.

Statistics indicate that forecourt proprietors made attempts to identify culprits in no less than 39,563 instances between July and September 2023. This marks a substantial upswing, amounting to four times the figure recorded during the same timeframe in 2019.

Petrol theft appears to be on the rise across Britain, and it may be attributed to what is being described as "systematic criminal activity."

Data compiled by the RAC Foundation underscores that between July and September this year, there were 39,563 reported incidents, reflecting a 77% escalation compared to the 22,335 cases reported during the corresponding period in the previous year.

This increase represents a fourfold jump from the 8,558 recorded cases during the same three-month period in 2019.

The British Oil Security Syndicate, a proponent of reducing forecourt-related crime, estimates that these incidents impose an average annual cost of £10,500 on filling stations.

The majority of these incidents likely pertain to drive-offs, commonly referred to as "bilking," wherein individuals refuel their vehicles and depart without settling the bill.

Motorists found guilty of making off without payment, an offence stipulated in the Theft Act 1978, can face a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

Director of the RAC Foundation, Steve Gooding, expressed that these figures do not come as a surprise and may merely offer a glimpse of a more significant issue.

He stated, "While it might be plausible that the rising cost of living is enticing some individuals to take the risk of driving off without making payment, the genuine concern for fuel suppliers lies in the prospect of this being a manifestation of a more organised criminal undertaking."

He further emphasised, "The message to anyone contemplating bilking at the service station should be clear: 'Do not commence refuelling unless you can meet the payment, as apprehension is a genuine possibility, and financial losses incurred by businesses will inevitably result in higher costs for all consumers."