The news source noted that with the price of a liter of petrol and diesel at GBP1.22 and GBP1.37, respectively, organized gangs are operating at forecourt locations by stealing number plates of other motorists.
The phenomenon, referred to by the police forces as bilking, has increased by 5% in Staffordshire to between 65% in Fife over the first four months of 2008, compared to the same period of 2007.
The news source noted that Yorkshire witnessed a 9% increase, while the West Midlands saw a 30% spike and Durham registered a 60% increase in bilking incidents during the same period.
Forecourt operators are reportedly turning to automatic number plate recognition systems and closed-circuit television to counter the trend. The latest statistics from the British Oil Security Syndicate reportedly show that forecourt retailers have lost GBP32.5 million in 2007, an increase of 13%, due to fuel theft, according to The Observer.
