West Mercia Police is urging residents who use oil to heat their properties to be extra vigilant.
The caution has be made in light of a theft in the county, which happened earlier this week. The incident on Tuesday, January 11, involved hundreds of litres of heating oil being stolen from a farm property near St Weonards, Hereford. A number of similar thefts have also occurred recently in Shropshire and Worcestershire.
Sgt David Bishop at Hereford Police Station said: “While this is not a large problem, we have noticed a slight increase in such crimes in the county. It is possibly due to the increase in fuel costs over recent months so they may become more prevalent across the country. We are warning local people who use heating oil to take precautions against being targeted by thieves.”
Sgt Bishop has issued a number of hints and tips to help reduce the chances of heating oil being stolen from your property.
These include:
- Use plant shrubs or fences to hide your tank from view.
- Remember to check your tank’s oil levels on a regular basis.
- Remove any empty containers or drums from the immediate area – they could draw attention to the presence of your oil tank.
