Criminals are preying on rural communities as oil prices soar, says Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner
According to Suffolk Police, there were seven reports of oil thefts in the month to March 15
Criminals are preying on rural communities as oil prices soar, Suffolk’s police boss has said.
The significant hikes to heating oil bills, as a result of the assault launched by the US and Israel in Iran, have led to an increase in instances of theft in Suffolk.
According to Suffolk Police, there were seven reports of oil thefts in the month to March 15 – two in February and five in March – all in the Ipswich East or Halesworth policing areas.
Where available, the value of the oil stolen in these cases, six of which were from family homes and one from a pub, was between 200 and 500 litres.
Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), said homes in Suffolk had become more at risk of being targeted for oil theft and urged residents to follow police guidance.
“Criminals are taking the rise in oil prices as an opportunity to prey on rural communities who generally heat their homes with oil,” he said.
“Sadly, some residents in the east of the county have already been targeted in this way.
“An oil tank can be drained in just a few minutes, and if it’s not protected, it could be an easy target for thieves looking to make some quick cash.”
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, MP for Suffolk Coastal, told the PCC in a letter she was concerned criminal activity was ‘intensifying night by night, with no apparent sign of abating’.
The MP urged Mr Passmore to take a ‘forceful response’ in her constituency, with increased police presence and a dedicated task force.
She said: “The theft of this fuel causes not only significant financial harm but real distress and, for many, a genuine risk to health and wellbeing.
“My constituents deserve to feel safe in their homes and to be confident that the police are acting decisively on their behalf.”
What to do if you’re worried
Eamonn Bridger, the force’s assistant chief constable, outlined different ways residents can prevent thefts and keep their oil tanks safe.
These are:
- Screen the tank so it is not easy to see from the road.
- Using CCTV with motion detection.
- Use a fuel alarm.
- Secure the tank with a robust closed-shackle padlock.
- Use a secure storage compound around the tank.
Chief Con Bridger further urged residents to report an ongoing crime by calling 999 and take photos of the suspects or their number plate if it is safe to do so.
If a crime has already happened, residents can report it on the force’s website or by calling 101.