How you can make cash by dobbing in petrol station thieves as £200,000 of fuel stolen from UK forecourts a day

DRIVERS could pocket cash rewards for shopping petrol thieves, as figures reveal a staggering £200,000 worth of fuel is being stolen from UK forecourts every single day. Analysis by fuel theft prevention firm Forecourt Eye shows incidents of drivers filling up and speeding off without paying have soared by 20% since the Iran oil crisis began on February 28. The value of stolen fuel has jumped by 48 per cent over the same period, hitting an eye-watering daily average of £194,000 across the country’s 8,359 forecourts. Now motorists are being urged to report any thieves they witness to Crimestoppers, with the charity offering rewards of up to £1,000 for information leading to an arrest and charge. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! In more serious cases involving organised crime gangs, police can request enhanced rewards of up to £10,000 for tip-offs that crack the case. Anyone wanting to grass up a forecourt crook can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, but must ask for a reward code when reporting to be eligible for any payout. The soaring theft figures come as the average price of a litre of petrol climbed to 160p last week, about 27p more than before the war began. Diesel prices have fared even worse, now sitting at around 179p per litre, some 37p higher than pre-conflict levels. Forecourt Eye managing director Michelle Henchoz said: “As offending becomes more organised and more sophisticated, operators need joined-up technology that helps them protect both their forecourt and their convenience store.” Gordon Balmer, of the Petrol Retailers Association, said members are “reporting increasing levels of abuse and aggression towards colleagues who are simply doing their jobs and have no influence over the price displayed on the forecourt”. Most read in Money Ben Lawrence, a director at Lawrences Garages, which runs five stations in Norfolk and Hampshire, said the rising cost of living means ordinary drivers are now stealing fuel, not just criminals. He said: “When someone drives off (after taking fuel worth) £80-£90, it’s hitting us, not the oil companies. We’ve already purchased it.” Comment now