| The rising price of fuel has already caused many | | | | in this part of Europe needs to be especially cautious. |
| woes for owner operators and haulage companies in | | | | What precautions to take |
| recent months. Protests have been held by lorry | | | | Diesel rustling is a hard crime to guard against, with |
| drivers around the world, worried about the effect | | | | some gangs having been known to steal diesel even |
| that the spiralling cost of diesel is having on their | | | | when a lorry driver is asleep in his cab. However, |
| businesses. Now, people in the haulage industry are | | | | there are a number of precautions that concerned |
| finding themselves the targets of a new kind of | | | | owner operators can take in order to protect their |
| crime - diesel rustling. | | | | vehicles. |
| As fuel prices increase, diesel is being nicknamed | | | | Protect your fuel: Always lock your fuel cap. You |
| "liquid gold", and it is unsurprising that thieves have | | | | may want to invest in an alarm system or |
| taken to stealing and reselling this valuable resource. | | | | anti-siphoning device for your fuel tank to make it |
| With their large fuel tanks and predictable stop off | | | | much harder for thieves to get in to your fuel tank. |
| points, lorries are a natural target for this new breed | | | | Be warned, however - some gangs have been |
| of fuel thieves, and increasing numbers of lorry | | | | known to puncture the fuel tank if the cap is |
| drivers are returning to their vehicles to find fuel caps | | | | especially well protected. |
| forced off and their diesel siphoned away. Many | | | | Park carefully: Lorry drivers are advised to park "tank |
| lorries routinely carry over £1000 worth of | | | | to tank" with other lorries to make it much harder to |
| diesel, and their fuel tanks can be emptied in a | | | | access the fuel tank. |
| matter of minutes. | | | | Dye your diesel: You may want to consider dying |
| Where it happens | | | | your diesel. This can not only deter thieves, it can |
| Diesel rustling first became a problem in rural parts of | | | | also make the diesel easier for police to trace if it is |
| America, where farm equipment was routinely being | | | | stolen. |
| emptied of fuel. But now lorry drivers are being | | | | Travel light: Don't travel with a full tank unless you |
| targeted, and it is becoming much more widespread | | | | have to, so you stand to lose less if your diesel is |
| on busy haulage routes around the world. Thefts can | | | | stolen. |
| occur at petrol stations and rest stops when a lorry | | | | Talk to others: Diesel rustlers are not opportunistic |
| driver is on the road, but haulage companies have | | | | thieves. They are typically well organised gangs that |
| also reported diesel rustlers breaking into delivery | | | | have particular routes and areas that they will target. |
| yards and car parks at night. In the UK, there have | | | | Make sure you keep in touch with your fellow lorry |
| been reports of persistent thefts in Cambridgeshire | | | | drivers, and if a particular route or rest stop becomes |
| and East Surrey. Abroad, particular problems have | | | | well known for diesel rustling, avoid it! |
| been reported in Spain, and anyone on a haulage job | | | | |