Rural householders have been warned by police to be vigilant after a rise of heating oil tanks thefts from gardens.
The price of the fuel has risen by 70% in recent months and criminals are said to be using increasingly sophisticated tactics to target isolated homes.
Police have advised homeowners to fit padlocks on their tanks and consider installing alarms.
More than 1.5m homes across the UK, mostly in rural areas, are dependent on heating oil.
The increase in the price of the oil and the isolated nature of many of the homes has made them an easy target for thieves.
David Hamilton, a pensioner who had £500 worth of oil stolen from a tank outside his home, said it “doesn’t take much” for an isolated person to get cold without fuel and heating before going “over the edge” towards hypothermia.
Ian Johnson, of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), said thieves “will do anything to steal fuel”.
He said anecdotal evidence suggests they are using increasingly sophisticated tactics, “including watching the depots, following the lorries, seeing where [fuel] is delivered and helping themselves to the contents”.
Insurers say the average claim for such a theft is more than £2,000, although Mr Johnson warned that “some insurers don’t cover that”
The BBC’s Louise Hubbal said: “Police say that the oil is being sold on and can even be used in diesel cars.”
Article from the BBC New UK website, 28th January 2011.
Below are a couple of products that can help prevent thieves from stealing heating oil from your home.
The revolutionary electronic measuring guage which will set off an alarm at the receiver in the house when there is a dramatic drop in oil levels. It can also monitor your oil heating levels all year round, giving you peace of mind that you won’t run out and the chance to
keep a check on your oil consumption patterns.
* One model fits all
* Quick and easy to install
* Suitable for steel or plastic tanks
* 12 months replacement guarantee
* Low power consumption
* 200 metre transmitter to receiver range
* Measures tanks up to 3 metres in height
* Option of an audible setting sending out a buzzing one when oil levels run low
Titan Watchmansonic
Monitor your oil heating levels all year round, giving you peace of mind that you won’t run out and the chance to keep a check on your oil consumption patterns.
* One model fits all
* Quick and easy to install
* Suitable for steel or plastic tanks
* 12 months replacement guarantee
* Low power consumption
* 200 metre transmitter to receiver range
* Measures tanks up to 3 metres in height
* Option of an audbile setting sending out a buzzing one when oil levels run low