Lorries are being increasingly targeted by fuel thieves as the price of diesel remains at an all-time high – despite the slight duty reduction announced in yesterday’s Budget.

Road hauliers across the Bradford district report being victims of thieves who smash open tanks with a chisel or screwdriver to drain off the fuel.

One lorry company has lost up to £8,000 of diesel in a year to thieves, who usually strike in laybys when vehicles are parked up.

A survey by the Road Hauliers’ Association has revealed that out of 150 companies, two-thirds reported being victims of fuel theft.

Malcolm Bright, who runs a fleet of 16 articulated lorries from Bingley, where he has been for 26 years, said: “This is a very serious issue and very costly for road hauliers.

“We have lost £8,000 a year by theft, either from tanks being siphoned or people chiselling through and draining off the fuel.

“Vehicles are regularly getting turned over when parked overnight. These are professional thieves who use an electric pump in a transit van, a long pipe to the lorry and pump out the fuel.”

Joe Balmforth, operations director of McDowell Distribution in Keighley said lorries had been targeted when parked in its yard and when parked overnight in laybys.

“We have fitted anti-siphon devices, but a determined thief just uses a screwdriver or a chisel and collects the fuel in containers,” he said.

“Theft of fuel has always happened but it’s worse now because of the price of diesel. It’s annoying, not just because of the theft but because of the knock-on cost effects. The vehicle has to be recovered, it is off the road for repairs and we have to use a second vehicle to cover for it.”

Chrys Rampley, security manager for the Road Haulage Association (RHA) said fuel was still being taken from lorries parked up in lay-bys and depots despite companies investing in CCTV and security to protect the premises.

She said: “There are thieves out there who are determined, sitting and waiting outside secure depots for the right moment to siphon the fuel.”

  • Read the full story in Thursday's T&A