Heating And Diesel Oil Theft : Protect Your Property

Officers in Monmouthshire are warning owners of heating oil fuel tanks to check on their security following reports of recent thefts in the area. Overnight on Sunday 22nd January the lock was removed from an oil tank on Main Road, Clydach and heating oil was removed. Also, sometime between Wednesday 18th – 25th January, £400 worth of heating oil was stolen from a tank in Silvan View, Tintern. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Local Inspector Phil Morris said, “I’d ask everyone who has an heating oil tank to be vigilant of any suspicious vehicles or people in the area. If you do see anything out of the ordinary, please contact us. Also if you have any information that could help with our investigation into these crimes, please call 101 quoting log 107 25/1/17 or log 91 25/1/17.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There are some steps you can take to make your tank less attractive to thieves… ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Location: The position of the tank can have a significant effect on how hard a target it is in the eyes of the thief. If the tank is close to the house, with one or more windows overlooking the tank, then the thief may consider the chances of being seen too high. If the tank is close to a road, path, drive or alleyway then it will be a far easier target. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Control Switches: Control switches that control the flow of oil should be turned off and the electricity supply isolated when the tank is not in use. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Padlocks: A thief will usually come equipped with a limited range of tools so it’s worth spending a little more on good quality locks. Close shackle padlocks are the best as they offer most resistance to tools such as bolt croppers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Oil Level Gauges: Remote electronic oil level gauges are now available which will set off an audible alarm if the oil level in the tank suddenly drops or falls below a quarter full. These gauges can be located in the kitchen or perhaps a utility room to warn of any potential problem. There are two or three different versions on the market at the moment and cost between £70 and £100. Get into the habit of regularly checking oil levels so that you will know if you have lost any. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Security Lights: Security lights can have a very positive effect and make any property a much harder target for the thief. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

CCTV: The use of CCTV as crime prevention and a crime detection tool has grown massively in recent years. It could play a part in the protection of oil tanks and provide vital evidence should the worst happen and your tank gets targeted by thieves. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​