Whether you own a small, family farm that functions or have an expansive, livestock or agricultural operation, with the fourth biggest reported crime on Farms being fuel theft, knowing how to prevent theft of agricultural fuel is vital.
Fuel thieves often use a basic tube to siphon the fuel, however more sophisticated equipment such as fuel pumps have been reported by police.
Fortunately, there are still measures that you can take, to help prevent becoming a victim of fuel theft. After all, agricultural tank fills can cost thousands of pounds, which could leave many business’ facing financial difficulties.
Here are our top tips to help prevent fuel theft at your property:
Get it Locked
Although locking your tank shouldn’t be your only line of defence, it is a good place to start. If possible, install sturdy locks on your caps, openings, and vent caps. In addition to tank locks, you may look into fitting fuel hoses, with hardened/ flexible casing so they are harder to cut.
Keep your tank hidden
Installing fences and locked gates around a fuel tank can be a deterrent against thieves. To make them most effective, make your fence as high as possible, whilst still adhering to your local planning department’s regulations.
Planting shrubs or prickly thorns around your tank can also be effective. You shouldn’t let any plants grow too close to the tank or its base, or let them climb over it. If plants are too close to the tank they can make access to refill the tank difficult and fallen leaves or other debris might present a fire risk.
The idea is to camouflage the tank with tall-growing plants or trellises, even some fast growing trees. A good rule of thumb is to place plants at least two feet away from the tank, making sure that there is still a safe and hazard free route available for our drivers to re-fuel your tank, as well as being able to access all areas of the tank regularly to make sure it is in sound condition. We may refuse delivery if we are unable to reach the tank safely.
Oil tank insurance
After an oil theft, it’s not just the cost of replacing oil that will be a financial inconvenience. Thieves’ may damage the tank or pipes itself. If any oil is spilt during the theft, you may have to pay for an environmental clean-up. Some thieves may even damage the preventative measures you have in place, such as locks, fencing, even CCTV.
Some insurance policies may not cover damage or theft of your fuel tanks, or the oil itself. We recommend checking whether your insurance policy covers your tanks and their contents.
Monitor your fuel
Although this may not prevent your fuel from being stolen, regularly checking fuel levels can help you easily spot if oil levels drop dramatically without explanation.
It can be quite difficult to manually keep an eye on your heating oil levels. Installing a fuel monitoring device like a Watchman Sonic, or Watchman Anywhere can make this easier.
Alarm it
If your tank is stored in an out building or shed, it may be worth investing in a burglar alarm. An outdoor tank however, may benefit from a tank alarm system. Although this won’t help prevent the thieves, the alarm will alert you when your fuel levels have drastically dropped, making you aware of any suspicious occurrences. Many fuel monitors already have this feature. You could even display a ‘This tank is alarmed’ sticker.
Security Light
Fuel thieves will always try and find a target where they think they will not be disturbed. Motion-sensing security lights can be particularly cost-effective when it comes to deterring potential thieves, while also alerting you to an unwanted visitor.
CCTV
CCTV is an easy way of keeping an eye on your property while you’re not there. It is an excellent way of deterring any thieves and, if the worst was to happen and a theft did occur, the perpetrators could be identified more easily. Installing one with motion sensors visible from your house, if possible, will also alert you to possible thieves on your property.
What to do if your Fuel is stolen
Only call 999 to report a theft in progress. You should call 101 to report a theft that has already occurred. Once you have a crime number, you should get in touch with your insurance provider straight away.
Reporting a theft while it is happening
If you are witnessing a theft in progress, stay inside your home, and do not confront the trespassers and call 999. Record as much evidence as possible. This may be descriptions of the people, photographs or car registrations.
Reporting a theft after it has happened
If you discover, or suspect you have been a victim of fuel theft, you should contact the non-emergency police line on 101. You should report your suspicions immediately, along with any relevant evidence you have such as CCTV footage
