Alleged fuel thief arrested after fleecing Umdloti fuel station

A two-time would-be fuel thief was siezed by a security company in Umdloti on Thursday morning attempting to steal fuel to the value of R9 000.

Just over a week ago the same Toyota Hi-Lux bakkie had filled a 450l fixed tank inside his bakkie at an Umhlanga fuel station, also to the value of R9 000.

The fraudulent fuel purchase was made using duplicate fleet management bank cards registered to businesses.

While the transaction may be successful at the time of purchase, rightful owners have these transactions reversed once they have realised cards have been cloned.

This leaves fuel stations to cover the costs.

Marshall Security, having received word of the initial theft on November 26, circulated a description of the bakkie.

The bakkie was spotted at a fuel station along South Beach Road in Umdloti to which security responded.

They arrived just in time to spot the bakkie leaving the fuel station after allegedly having made another fraudulent purchase.

Marshall Security managing director, Tyron Powell said the bakkie was stopped by  on the M27 leaving Umdloti, during which the police were notified.

Fraudulent cards were found in the man’s possession.

“Further investigation found that the same vehicle had been involved in numerous fraud cases around the province. The Hi-Lux was noted as a possible stolen vehicle,” he said.

The fuel station owner has opened a case with the Saps, and the alleged fraudster has been taken into police custody at the Durban North station.