Oil Thefts Targeting Communities

With the theft of home heating oil on the rise, thieves are now expanding target area and are now aiming at local schools, community centres and places of worship.Large buildings like these require a lot more oil than the average home and thieves are targeting these. Criminals are being able to steal more fuel in one robbery of this size.The rise in oil theft is due to the significant increase in oil prices. Since last year the price of liquid fuel has risen almost 50%. With not only the everyday person being effected by the increase on prices they are also finding themselves having to pay out double their money when they are being robbed of hundreds of pounds worth of heating fuel.Theft of home heating oil has become a problem for quite a while now but recently schools, community centres and places of worship have also fallen victim to the thieves. Schools have had to send pupils and staff home when discovering they have no method of heating the school as the result of oil theft.Oil theft affects the entire community when is stolen from a public building. Classes, meetings and youth activities have to be cancelled when the community centre have had to close as the result of oil theft.Criminals are even going as low, morally, to steal oil from places of worship. A number of churches and cathedrals have reported to have hundreds of pounds worth of heating fuels stole. Like the after effect of the thefts from schools and community centres, churches have had to close until more fuels supplies have been delivered. Criminals carrying out these crimes have no concept of the damaging effects it can have on not only the homeowner but also the wider community who use such buildings.Criminals targeting larger buildings are known as organised criminal gangs. They are equipped with the tools and devices to steal and contain large amounts of oil. Criminal gangs are using large vehicles such as lorries and vans to transport and store fuel from target to target. The theft has become a huge blow to people who are struggling enough with the price rise in fuel and economic state. Some families have to go for days without heating as not everyone can afford to buy oil twice. With growing reports to the police about the theft, police advice homeowners, school principals etc to ensure they secure their heating supply with a locking device, alarms, spot lights or security cameras.