Police urging lorry drivers to be aware of fuel thieves in Suffolk
It's after a number of incidents on the A14.
Suffolk Police are urging lorry drivers and haulage company owners to be aware of thieves targeting lorries and other heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) for fuel.
The warning follows a number of incidents in recent weeks where HGVs have had diesel stolen from their tanks while they were parked overnight in laybys and lorry parks on the A14.
In total, nine offences have been reported in lorry parks / laybys in the Bury St Edmunds area since 1 March. In the latest incident, thieves struck in a lorry park off the A14 at Rougham overnight between 5 and 6 April.
In the Ipswich area, four incidents have been reported along the A14 and A12 corridor in March and April. Diesel was stolen from a lorry in a layby near Bury Road on 8 March and HGVs were targeted at Copdock Interchange on 31 March and in a layby at Copdock on the A12 overnight 5/6 April. A further theft occurred overnight on 2 April on the A14 at Claydon.
Police are aware that not all incidents are reported and the number of thefts is likely to be higher. All incidents should be reported to police so important evidence can be gathered.
Superintendent Matthew Carney said: “We have seen a number of these types of thefts this year. Thieves are damaging and breaking fuel caps in a bid to get to the fuel and I would urge any lorry drivers and haulage company owners to take steps to prevent themselves from becoming victims.
“If you are a victim, please report the incident as soon as possible. Equally, if you witness any suspicious activity, for example people tampering with lorries late at night, please report this straight away via 999 as this gives us the best chance to catch those responsible.”
Fuel theft prevention advice for HGVs and large vans
Commercial vehicles are often seen as prime targets for fuel thefts because of the volume of fuel in their fuel tanks and because these types of vehicles are often parked in insecure laybys on busy dual carriageways, with fuel stolen while the drivers are asleep within their vehicles.
In addition to the cost of the stolen fuel, vehicle fuel caps, tanks and fuel lines are sometimes damaged.
Secured By Design (SBD) is the official police security initiative that looks to provide crime reduction advice. The SBD website details police approved crime reduction products, including items that can alert drivers if offenders are attempting to steal their fuel or break into any sections within the vehicle.
General advice from police
Locking fuel caps and anti-siphoning deterrents are among those products available that can make fuel tanks on vehicles less vulnerable but these could be damaged if an offender manages to gain access to the vehicle.
Any drivers noticing people loitering near vehicles should note the time, date and location, as well as the descriptions of the people.
Adopt defensive parking measures whenever and wherever possible, such as parking in a highly visible, well-lit areas or using off-road parking areas such as secure compounds or lorry parks, although these can be targeted.
Park vehicles so that fuel tanks are as inaccessible as possible, such as parking the vehicle tank close to a wall or park vehicles tank to tank if possible.
Don’t make it easy for the thieves: make sure that compounds don’t contain items that might help a thief intending to steal from vehicles. Objects that could be used for climbing perimeter fencing should not be left lying around.
For vehicles parked within business compounds, install effective security lighting and CCTV at the compound.
Business perimeters should have good quality perimeter fencing to deter thieves.