£1000 of fuel is stolen in just two hours across North Yorkshire
Four petrol stations have been targeted in York and Harrogate
North Yorkshire Police is investigating four fuel thefts in the space of two hours yesterday morning (Monday 10 February). A van using different number plates, was identified by the ANPR Hub (Automatic Number Plate Recognition).
At 6.30am, £275 worth of diesel was taken without payment from Sainsbury's petrol station in Huntington in York
Not long after 8am, £279 worth of diesel was taken without payment from Tesco Express on High Street in Harrogate
At 8.12am, £282 worth of diesel was taken without payment from Sainsbury's on Wetherby Road in Harrogate
At 8.20am, £272 worth of diesel was taken without payment at the Esso Petrol Station on Wetherby Road in Harrogate
The suspect vehicle - an old Ford transit van - was seen travelling towards the border of Lancashire.
A patrol team located it but the suspects ran off and abandoned the vehicle - before officers recovered the van and found at least £1,000 worth of stolen fuel inside.
One of the people believed to be involved is described as being a white man, 5ft 8in tall, with a stocky build, short hair, wearing a black cap, dark jeans, black trainers with a white sole, black t-shirt, and a burgundy jumper.
Police are appealing for any witnesses to any of these incidents or who may have seen the men once they had abandoned the van.