A truck driver was threatened by a gang intent on siphoning diesel from his tank, it has emerged.
The shocking case has been highlighted by the Road Haulage Association (RHA), which has expressed its concern over the growing incidence of fuel theft from HGVs on the UK’s roads.
The haulier, who has not been named by the RHA but works with a Fife firm, was hit when he stopped for a short time at Donington Services on the M1 northbound on Friday, May 13.
Several people are understood to have approached the driver and threatened him with violence before they removed about 40 litres of diesel from the truck’s tank.
Although the driver was left physically unharmed he was said to be “extremely shaken” by the whole episode, which has prompted the RHA to remind its members to exercise caution particularly when parking at service stations.
Chrys Rampley, the RHA’s head of security, said motorway service areas can be hotspots for truck crime and revealed that the assocation has been campaigning for years for improved security.
“There are thieves out there who are prepared to sit and wait for hours until the right moment to siphon the fuel,” she said. “However, it is a rare occurrence for a driver to be approached and threatened in this manner.
“When you consider the price drivers and hauliers have to pay to use motorway service area facilities, it is scandalous that security is not of a higher standard at these sites.”
According to the forecourt manager at Donington, the case earlier this month was the first of this nature they have experienced. Occasional fuel thefts have taken place at their site but most are ‘drive-offs’ from the forecourt itself.ScandalousMs Rampley added, “The response from the police is patchy. Many don’t record the offence due to the simple fact that once siphoned off, stolen fuel cannot be positively identified as there are no tell-tale marks or fingerprints.
“At a time when UK hauliers are really feeling the pinch as a result of record fuel prices, to have their fuel stolen is adding insult to injury and we shall be doing all we can to bring this scandalous practice to the attention of the MSA operators.
“It seems that some individuals will stop at nothing and it won’t be long before someone is hurt.”
Chief Inspector Graeme Kinmond, from Fife Police, urged people to be vigilant but added that thefts of fuel from unattended vehicles and premises are still relatively rare in the Fife area, as are fuel drive-offs from garages.
He added, “The vast majority of garages have sophisticated CCTV systems and together with initiatives such as Forecourt Watch this ensures that when offences occur they are quickly detected.”
He added, “There are devices that can be fitted to the filler cap that can activate the vehicles alarm when tampered with. When parking in a lorry park try to park very close to the next lorry so the fuel tanks are close together making it difficult to access them.
“Public vigilance is also key and quick reporting of any suspicious activity around vehicles is encouraged.”