Forty litres of diesel were taken and although the driver of the Fife-based company was left physically unharmed he was, quite understandably, extremely shaken by the whole episode.
Motorway Service Areas can be hotspots for truck crime and the Road Haulage Association has been campaigning for years for improved security at these sites, according to a spokesman for the organisation. As fuel prices rise, diesel has become a highly valued commodity among criminals who sell it on for a 'below market' cost. This activity is creating large losses for haulage firms in particular in the UK.
RHA Head of Security Chrys Rampley said thieves are prepared to sit and wait for hours until the right moment to siphon the fuel. "However it is a rare occurrence for a driver to be approached and threatened in this manner," he noted. "When you consider the price drivers and hauliers have to pay to use MSA facilities, it is scandalous that security is not of a higher standard at these sites."
According to the Forecourt Manager at Donnington, this is the first case of this nature they have experienced. They are aware of occasional fuel thefts at their site but most are ‘drive-offs’ from the forecourt itself.
Chrys Rampley says 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. It seems that some individuals will stop at nothing and it won’t be long before someone is hurt.”
