Following a number of incidents, Norfolk Constabulary has recently issued a warning to hauliers about fuel card thefts.
In March this year, two fuel cards were stolen and used to buy £1,500 worth of fuel at different locations.
The following month, another card was reported stolen from a lorry and used 36 times to purchase £6,000 worth of fuel.
And in July, more cards stolen from articulated lorries in Cambridgeshire were used to buy fuel totalling £6,000 at various locations across the country.
PC Andy Barkway, of Norfolk Police, said that although no suspects had been identified, the crimes appeared to be the work of a single gang targeting vehicles for fuel cards.
“We are investigating a number of cases where large amounts of fuel have been fraudulently purchased from 24-hour forecourts in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. The purchases are being made over a period of hours, at night and before the owners are aware.”
Police are advising hauliers not to leave fuel cards in the vehicle and to consider leaving a note in the window to let potential thieves know there are no cards in the vehicle.
“Owners could also consider keeping their fuel cards on the key ring in a holder. In addition, 24-hour forecourts need to be alert to people behaving suspiciously, for example trying to hide their identity when filling up with large amounts of fuel, and check cards for signs of tampering.”
If anyone has any suspicions and believes a crime is being committed, police are asking them to call 999 or email Andrew.barkway@norfolk.police.uk.
