Fuel thefts from Bradford petrol stations have rocketed by more than half over the past two years, new figures reveal.

Motorists have driven off without paying for petrol 1,579 times in Bradford since 2006, West Yorkshire Police statistics show.

And the increased cost of petrol means garage owners are suffering more than ever.

In the first four months of this year there have been more than 230 separate incidents of people driving off from forecourts without paying.

One Bradford filling station owner said the rate may be even higher because some thefts were not reported to police.

The statistics, obtained by the Telegraph & Argus under freedom of information laws, show 565 thefts in Bradford and 3,241 in West Yorkshire in 2006. A year later that ballooned to 782 thefts in Bradford with 2,962 in West Yorkshire.

The trend shows little sign of changing this year, with 232 drive-offs recorded in Bradford and 1,025 across the county between January and April.

A name and shame campaign was launched at Esso’s petrol station in Rooley Lane, Bierley, in May to combat the petrol thieves.

But Joanne Hughes, a supervisor at the filling station, said they were still suffering an average of about three thefts a week.

She said: “I think initially the campaign was working but it doesn’t seem to be now. I think the high cost of petrol has a lot to do with it.”

Abdullah Bham, who runs the Sun Garage in Bradford Old Road, Cottingley, Bingley, said: “At the moment we have been lucky. The last time we had someone making off without paying was about four months ago.

“I have heard of some garages losing out because of the fuel increases. For example, it used to cost £30 to fill up a tank, now it costs £60. So they are running off with a lot more.

“Some of the crimes are also not being reported because of a lack of CCTV. Because you do not have the number plate the police can’t do anything about it, so those crimes aren’t added into the police figures.”

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “We are serious about tackling all forms of forecourt crime and in working with our partners in the industry to find those responsible.

“In May 2008 the Name, Shame and Claim campaign was launched across Bradford, designed at tackling the problem of forecourt crime including theft of fuel, other thefts and assault. All 54 filling stations across the Bradford district joined the campaign and are displaying the Name, Shame and Claim posters urging people to report those responsible for forecourt crime.

“We also work with Boss (the British Oil Security Syndicate) whose members are Esso, BP, Shell, Texaco, Total and members of the Petrol Retailers Association.

“Where CCTV has been installed at garages, we are able to trace offending vehicles through our Automatic Number Plate Recognition system and we would always ask anyone with any information on forecourt crime to contact police.”

A spokesman for the British Oil Security Syndicate which works with police forces said the number of fuel thefts was “unacceptable” but chairman Kevin Eastwood said: “The figures do not support the idea that as a result of high fuel prices people are turning to crime.

“There has not been a significant increase but what has gone up is the value of what people are taking. The people who have traditionally been nicking fuel on a regular basis are costing petrol stations more money.”

The display of the Name, Shame and Claim posters followed the publication of a Boss report showing a 13 per cent increase in national overall losses during 2007.

Mr Eastwood said: “We have a forecourt watch in West Yorkshire but how successful it will be. is a matter of resources. What it has done is keep a lid on it. We will continue to work closely with West Yorkshire Police to bring people to book.”

To report fuel theft, contact West Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.