Spate of heating oil thefts in Suffolk as costs soar |
Suffolk police has confirmed that between Sunday, February 15 and Sunday, March 15, there have been seven heating oil thefts.
These all took place in the east Ipswich and Halesworth policing areas, with six residential properties being targeted and one pub.
There have been heating oil thefts across Suffolk. (Image: Newsquest)
Five of the thefts happened in March, with two happening in February, and all of them took place overnight or into the morning.
Each time, between 200 and 500 litres of heating oil was taken from the properties.
This follows two men being arrested in Chiswell Green, St Albans, Hertfordshire, on Thursday, March 12.
The 34 and 22-year-olds from Cambridge were stopped in the van by police, and arrested on suspicion of being equipped to steal, theft and three incidents of making off without payment from within Suffolk.
In the back of the van they were driving, officers found a 1000 litre container and a sophisticated fuel siphoning system.
The pair have since been bailed to return to Suffolk police on April 9.
The increase in thefts has occurred as prices for unleaded petrol, diesel and heating oil continue to increase due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Police have issued the following guidance to help people prevent heating oil theft:
Hide the location of the tank
Fit your oil tank with a padlock or lockable filler cap
Secure the oil tank within a cage
Install lockable gates
Fit an electronic gauge, which can activate an alarm when the oil level drops
Fit security lights near to the oil tank location