“This is not a victimless crime,” he continued. “When fuel is not paid for, the cost does not disappear, it is absorbed by the retailer and ultimately adds to the wider cost of running a forecourt.”
That said, Forecourt Eye, which works for roughly a quarter of all fuel stations in the UK, says that it has also noticed a “concerning rise” in the number of instances where criminals are stealing large quantities of fuel in one go, suggesting it’s being resold on the black market.
Michelle Henchoz, Forecourt Eye’s managing director, said: “The most alarming aspect is the method being used, with fuel being stored in plastic containers or improvised tanks inside vehicles, which is extremely dangerous. In the event of a collision, the consequences could be catastrophic, not just for those involved but for other road users as well.”
As of the time of writing, the average price of petrol and diesel sits around 157p and 190p per litre respectively – only around one to two pence down from its recent peak. The RAC’s head of policy, Simon Williams, sympathised with motorists, pointing out how drivers “understand retailers have had no option but to put prices up due to the cost of oil being so much higher, and they’re also suffering with fuel theft as widely reported this week. But as wholesale prices reduce so should forecourt prices.”
Want the latest car news in your inbox? Sign up to the free Auto Express email newsletter…
