German police regularly report fuel thefts from truck tanks. The latest incident occurred at the “Grüner Winkel” motorway service area near Euskirchen in North Rhine-Westphalia. On the night from Friday to Saturday, a total of around 1,600 litres of diesel were stolen from two trucks. Both drivers were asleep in their vehicles, and the perpetrators escaped unnoticed.
Fuel theft: a growing problem
Nazaire Quincé, CEO of the French haulage company Transports Quincé, describes the scale of the problem in an interview with transport-info.fr. Last year, the company lost more than 13,800 litres of fuel, and in January 2026 alone it had already recorded the theft of 5,207 litres, amounting to a loss of €6,750. The company head does not hide his outrage.
“Fuel theft is a scourge affecting every company that operates trucks. It has become a form of organised crime. Thieves keep stealing because it’s easy and virtually risk-free. Neither law enforcement nor the justice system seems to be tackling this problem,” he stresses.
Carriers feel helpless
Many companies are giving up on filing complaints about fuel theft.
“Filing a complaint is pointless and a waste of time. The police took our statements, but the case will probably be dropped because they have other priorities,” explains Nicolas Combemorel, head of Transports Boucheix and Limatrans, in a conversation with transport-info.fr.
The carrier estimates that last year it lost around €15,000 due to fuel theft. When reporting one of the incidents, recorded by a tachograph, he was told that the footage could not be used because the device was illegal.
Business owners appear to be completely powerless, and insurance does not offer full protection.
“Theft and vandalism insurance covers damage to security mechanisms or the tank, but not the fuel itself, which is excluded from policies,” explains a representative of France Assureurs quoted by transport-info.fr.
How to protect yourself against fuel theft?
Although there is no foolproof protection, specialists recommend a number of proven safeguards:
- anti-siphon mesh inserts – metal screens in the filler neck that prevent fuel from being siphoned out,
- reinforced locking caps – harder to force than standard ones,
- filler neck covers and locks – steel elements screwed or riveted on to restrict access,
- alarm systems – sensors that react to the cap being opened or a drop in fuel level,
- telematics monitoring – real-time fuel level measurement and alert notifications,
- numbered seals – allow you to check whether the cap has been opened.
Good practice also includes parking with the filler neck against a wall or close to another truck and choosing well-lit and guarded parking areas. Combined with technical security measures, this extends the time needed to steal fuel and often discourages thieves.
