Fuel thefts at UK petrol stations have increased by 62% since the start of the conflict between the US-Israel and Iran, according to data from fuel theft recovery company Pay My Fuel. The rise coincides with a surge in pump prices, with the cost of filling a typical family car with petrol up by £14 and diesel by £27. Josh, a forecourt owner operating five garages in southern England, reported experiencing five drive-offs per site each week, up from one or two previously, costing him approximately £2,000 weekly across all locations. CCTV footage shared with the BBC shows multiple incidents, including a motorbike rider taking £14.97 worth of fuel, a white van driver stealing £151.53 worth of diesel during morning rush hour, and a woman in a white Porsche SUV driving off after filling up with £75.15 worth of fuel.
Ian Wolfenden, director of Pay My Fuel, said the average value of a drive-off has risen from £56 to £67, a 46% increase, with affected forecourts now losing nearly £70 every two days. The company's systems are installed at 1,400 forecourts across the UK to help recover unpaid fuel costs. Josh stated that while some thefts may stem from desperation, most are premeditated, adding that staff abuse has risen alongside fuel prices. He declined to share his surname due to safety concerns. The UK government reiterated that fuel thieves "must face the full force of the law," while police said they are taking a proactive approach to tackling the issue.
Josh, the forecourt owner, claims most drive-offs are premeditated thefts, yet reports five incidents weekly across each of his five sites without visible police intervention. His staff face abuse linked to rising fuel costs, but the promised proactive policing appears absent in the footage he provided. If theft is now routine and enforcement is not matching the scale, then petrol station workers are left on their own to absorb both financial and personal risk. The gap between official statements and ground reality is costing small businesses more than just fuel.
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