Spike in petrol theft

A spike in fuel theft across Durban has prompted Blue Security to issue a warning to local garage owners and petrol attendants to reamain vigilant.

Blue Security managing director Darryn le Grange said the company had received reports every week of incidents where petrol thieves had refueled their vehicle’s tanks at petrol stations and fled without paying.

“In two recent incidents last week the driver of a green Toyota Corolla filled up with fuel at a garage in Mayville and fled without paying, while the driver of a white Toyota Quantum filled up with R800 worth of fuel and fled from an Umbilo garage without paying,” le Grange said.

Le Grange said fuel thieves had also targeted petrol stations in Pinetown, Clare Estate, Westmead, Northdene and Durban North in recent weeks.

“In one incident in North Coast Road the driver of a white bakkie filled up with fuel and fled without paying and another recent incident a driver in a green BMW filled up his vehicle’s tank at a garage in Athlone Drive and fled without paying for the petrol. Both incidents took place in broad daylight,” le Grange said.

However, he added, most incidents reported had taken place after 6pm in the evening.

“Unfortunately, due to the spiraling fuel price, petrol station owners have now become easy prey for opportunistic criminals and gangs to steal from as they cruise the suburbs,” he said.

Le Grange advised petrol station owners to install CCTV cameras with highly visible signage warning that video footage was being recorded of all activity on the forecourt. He advised owners and managers to contact their security company to report incidents as soon as it became evident that a theft was in progress.

“It’s also important for staff to remember to always record the registration numbers of vehicles that fuel up at the garage before customers are allowed to put fuel in their tanks,” le Grange said.

He said some garage owners had also invested in pumps that enabled staff to siphon petrol out of vehicle tanks to deal with instances where thieves claimed that they had “forgotent” their bank cards at home in a bid to drive off and never return to pay for the petrol.

Le Grange said it was important for petrol station owners to report incidents to their local police station for investigation.

“There has been an upward trend in this type of theft lately which makes it essential for petrol station owners to lay criminal charges against perpetrators to ensure that they are made an example of and that they face the full wrath of the law,” he added.