Cheshire Police warn of increase in fuel thefts across rural Chester due to recession while NFU Mutual insurance company report large increase in claims after rise in crime

Apr 16 2009 by Ben Coulbeck, Chester Chronicle

DESPERATE criminals are turning to fuel theft as the recession continues to bite across Chester.

Cheshire Police in the Western Rural area have reported an increase in drive-off crimes from garages over the past 12 months.

Inspector Phil Hodgson says that his Neighbourhood Policing Unit is working with businesses to combat the problem.

He said: “We have got to look at social trends and I have noticed the greatest increase in fuel thefts.

“Drive offs from garage forecourts and it is becoming a problem.

“It is anything from £10 to £70 but we are working with the owners of the garages and the British Oil Security Syndicate to address this issue.”

Overall crime in rural Chester has dropped 5.6% in the last year while Insp Hodgson revealed that, despite increasing numbers of thefts and burglary in rural areas across the UK, such offences are down by 7.8%.

It comes after the National Farmers Union Mutual insurance group reported a huge increase in claims being made by rural residents after criminal activity.

Aside from burglary, NFU Mutual claim there is a nationwide epidemic of thefts from domestic central heating oil tanks in rural areas.

Spokesman Tim Price said: “We have seen sharp increases in rural crime in previous economic downturns – and are concerned that these worrying figures could mark the first evidence of a new rural crime wave.”

But part from the rising number of drive-off thefts from petrol stations and garages, Insp Hodgson confirmed that overall crime has been reduced in the western rural area of Cheshire.

“We have seen a reduction in crime because we have had some success in targeting well known criminals in our area who are now in custody,” he added.