Lincolnshire Suffers from Recent Surge in Heating Oil Thefts

  • Added:
    Nov 01, 2012
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The rising cost of home heating oil has made it such a desirable commodity recently that many thieves are breaking into domestic fuel tanks and stealing this “liquid gold.” Police in Lincolnshire have recently warned residents to protect their heating oil tanks after a recent spate of thefts in the county.

According to the Boston Target, criminals managed to steal several thousands of pounds worth of fuel from a property near Gosberton. Another household in Haverholme Park was also recently targeted, with more than £650 of oil taken over the weekend.

There were also similar burglaries in Claypole and Dry Doddington at approximately the same time. Police suspect that the thieves are visiting properties in the daytime to scope out where home heating oil tanks are located and then returning at night to steal the fuel.

Police have advised local residents to increase the security of their home heating oil tanks and to telephone them on the non-emergency number if they see anything suspicious.

It is thought that this recent surge in home heating oil theft is due to the recent cold weather. Heating oil thefts usually see an influx during a cold snap. Thieves either use the valuable fuel to heat their own homes or sell it on to make money and profit from the high demand.

Police in Lincolnshire are asking for anyone who might have any information about these thefts to report it to make an anonymous report to the police.

Reducing Your Risk of Heating Oil Thefts

In order to reduce your chances of being a victim of home heating oil theft, there are many precautions that you can take. The first step is to place your fuel tank in a location which is easily viewed from your home and well lit. This will discourage thieves as they will have a greater risk of being caught in the act.

You can also install motion detector lights and alarms around the tank which set off an alarm whenever thieves are near. There are also automatic gauges which set an alarm off whenever the tank level experiences a sudden dip. You could also install locks on the fuel tank, which make it more difficult for thieves to access the fuel while they are sneaking around your property at night.

Surrounding the tank with a metal or wooden fence can also be an effective deterrent, but make sure that the delivery tanker is able to access your supply when you need to stock up.

With a few precautions you can greatly reduce your risk of home heating oil theft and protect your supply of this precious commodity so that you can keep your home warm in the winter.

Author's Profile

James Charles is a frequent contributor for Fuelfighter and has written many articles pertaining to all things regarding domestic heating oil, energy saving tips especially on such subjects as making the best of your precious boilerjuice for your heating requirements.


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