Stingers to catch fuel thieves

Petrol station owners are resorting to more drastic actions in an attempt to curb the number of drive aways from their forecourts by installing stinger devices at their petrol station entrance and exits.

The measures being used are in response to the increased numbers in drive aways occurring, as filling a 60 litre tank now costs up to £80, it’s becoming more tempting for drivers to leave without paying.

The stingers spikes embed in the leaving vehicles tyres deflating them and acting as an identification marker to the petrol station that they’ve come from.

One petrol station near Finsbury Park in London has had the stingers fitted after they lost more than £5,000 in the last year.

The Petrol Retailers Association said that drive aways were costing the industry millions with well over £11 million lost in 2006.

A way to stop the problem of drive aways is to introduce pay at pump systems that have become popular with many supermarket chains.

However smaller retailors are unwilling to put in these systems and end paying in kiosks as they make the majority of their profits from selling snacks and accessories. This is due to the average retailor only making 2p litre on fuel sales.

News brought to you by insuremyvehicle.co.uk, the home of commercial vehicle insurance.

May 27^th 2008

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