Fuel thieves on the rise

Station operators say petrol prices of nearly $1.50 a litre are putting a huge strain on motorists and are leading to increased fuel theft.

SA's Motor Trade Association deputy director Dennis Baldock estimated it would be costing operators as much as $7.1 million a year.

“It certainly seems as the price of fuel increases the incidence of reported drive-offs increases,” he said.

“I don't think it's the families doing this, I think it's the notorious offenders."

“People who target certain sites, certain areas, who are up to all the tricks like dodgy number plates, stolen cars.”

But he said operators were still reluctant to switch all their pumps to a pre-pay system.

“It's still in use, but it's a bit off-putting for some motorists,” he said.

“Motorists don't like it, so they don't particularly want to introduce it on a regular basis."

“But it's a question of how much can they afford to lose - they might get to the point where it's better off losing a few customers and not having drive-offs.”

In Victoria, record pump prices are being blamed for the rise of mum and dad petrol thieves, with fuel theft costing operators up to $300,000 a week.

“When it first hit the $1.40-a-litre mark, we saw mums driving off with the kids in the car without paying,” Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce spokesman Terry Conroy said.

He said some offenders were making a choice between paying for groceries or paying for petrol.

What should be done to to stop you having to decide between groceries and petrol? Can you afford petrol these days?