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With the average cost of diesel fuel edging toward $5 per gallon, one California county is trying to protect itself from a growing rash of diesel thefts.

In just the past few months, Kern County, Calif., has lost more than $280,000 worth of fuel to thieves, said police, although the problem is not exclusive to the area.

Kern County Detective Gary William called this an epidemic that won’t be getting better anytime soon. “I attribute it to the economy; I attribute it to the upswing of the price of fuel,” he said.

Police in Kern County, whose crops include potatoes and oranges, have set up a task force to combat the problem and are encouraging farmers and growers to report any thefts.
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Business is good for John Leighton. His company, which makes anti-theft devices for the diesel tanks of lorries and buses, has seen sales increase by 45 per cent so far this year amid warnings of an upsurge in “fuel rustling” sparked by sharply rising forecourt prices.

While petrol prices have risen inexorably in recent weeks to about 114p per litre, diesel – a fuel that could once be relied upon to undercut the cost of petrol – is now on average 12p per litre more expensive, which is causing financial difficulties for heavy users such as the haulage industry.

The AA said the 5.7 per cent rise in British diesel prices in the past month was the steepest since 2000 and warned that the intervention of speculative investors on world crude oil markets was helping to push up prices to more than $135 (£68) per barrel – more than double the cost of 12 months ago.
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A Houston man was charged with aggravated robbery Thursday in the brazen theft of a tractor trailer hauling more than 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

Police said Kenneth O’Brian Payne, 38, hijacked the tanker truck about 3 a.m. Monday soon after the driver finished topping off the load of fuel.

HPD investigators arrested him about 3 p.m. Wednesday at a home in the 5300 block of Lelia, police said.
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South Wales Police are warning petrol stations and other organisations which hold large quantities of fuel to be aware that due to increases in fuel prices many people are resorting to ciphering or stealing fuel.

Acting Inspector Steve Trigg said, “As petrol and diesel prices are increasing there has been a trend towards ciphering and stealing fuel from businesses as this has now become an expensive commodity.

“I ask all businesses which store or sell fuel to make sure that CCTV is fully operational and that barrels are hidden out of sight from the general public.

“Minimising the opportunities for theft will justifiably put people off committing the crime.”

Source: NewsWales