By Kelly Yates
CASEY has been ranked as the number one hot spot for petrol thieves.
Statistics show the state’s bowsers suffered almost 5600 petrol theft offences in 2007-08, with Casey topping the list at 468.
Casey inspector Andrew Miles is urging petrol stations to establish or increase their pre-paid hours in a bid to reduce fuel theft in the area.
Insp Miles said many petrol stations were being pro-active about petrol theft.
Endeavour Hills police launched a major stake-out of service stations in Endeavour Hills, Hallam and Doveton last July in an attempt to catch petrol thieves.
Operation Deter, the high visibility blitz, worked closely with 11 service stations and was implemented as an ongoing operation due to its success.
Senior Sergeant Russell Patten from the Endeavour Hills police station told the News statistics had showed a decline in petrol theft since the operation started.
Service Station Association CEO Ron Bowden said the impact of petrol drive-offs was felt throughout the industry.
“While some service stations are run by big corporations, the majority are small family businesses,” he said.
“Those thieves who are stealing the petrol say they are doing it tough, well so are the business owners.”
Mr Bowden said petrol stations were holding back on discounting petrol prices as a result of the increase in petrol theft offences.
“If we didn’t have petrol thieves, there’s a good chance the petrol would be a lot cheaper.”
Police say that security cameras are often ineffective as fuel theft tends to be tied in with numberplate theft, according to Victoria Police Safer Communities Unit Inspector Jill Wood.
“An offender steals a set of plates, attaches them to their vehicle, commits the petrol theft offence, and all the camera can record is the plate of the stolen vehicle,” Insp Wood said.
“This makes it a lengthier process to catch offenders, and also fails to prevent the crime from happening in the first place.”
Victoria Police received more than 10,000 reports of number plate theft in 2007-08.
Insp Wood said traditionally, criminals have used stolen number plates on motor vehicles for criminal activities such as robberies and burglaries.
As a result of petrol prices increasing, stolen plates are now predominantly being used to steal petrol, according to police.
