Diesel theft rises in Italy as gangs drain truck tanks in minutes

Reports from Italy reflect a broader pattern across Europe. As diesel prices rise, the illegal fuel trade becomes more profitable, making parked trucks with full tanks an increasingly attractive target. Carriers say these are no longer opportunistic thefts, but carefully planned operations carried out by specialist criminal groups.

Five trucks drained before departure

Claudio Sensi, vice-president of FAI Liguria and head of Dlm Coop, told Italian media about two fuel theft incidents involving vehicles from his company.

The most serious case occurred in May in the province of Alessandria, where thieves emptied the tanks of five trucks that were ready to leave.

This is no longer a simple, random theft. These are organised groups arriving in vehicles equipped with tanks, containers and pumps to siphon off fuel, Sensi said.

According to his account, the thieves can open tanks without damaging them by using master keys and specialist tools. If that does not work, they drill into the tank, insert a hose and pump out the fuel.

With the right equipment, draining a large tank takes only a few minutes.

Stops are the most vulnerable moment

Most thefts occur when a truck is left unattended, often while the driver is taking a rest break.

Criminals tend to target unguarded parking areas, motorway lay-bys, locations near filling stations and places close to loading or unloading points. These thefts can happen at night, but also in broad daylight.

The critical moment is a stop in a place without surveillance, especially when the driver is asleep, Sensi noted.

The cost is not limited to the missing diesel. A truck due to start its route can be immobilised without warning, forcing the operator to arrange refuelling, repair any damage and, in some cases, organise towing.

Each incident can disrupt delivery schedules and put pressure on customer relationships.

Stolen diesel feeds the illegal market

Italian industry representatives link the current wave of thefts to the growth of the illegal fuel market. That market includes both diesel stolen from trucks and fuel sold outside the legal system without some of the required taxes being paid.

Sensi says illegal diesel can be sold for 30 to 40 cents less per litre than fuel from legitimate sources.

When prices rise, both smuggling and theft increase. When prices return to levels carriers are used to, the scale of the problem clearly drops, the industry representative said.

The parallel market persists because there are buyers for cheaper fuel. Lower-cost diesel is moved through unofficial distribution channels and hidden storage sites that tax and customs authorities are trying to identify.

Italy is not alone

What is happening in Italy mirrors cases reported elsewhere in Europe. According to the Belgian transport association Transport en Logistiek Vlaanderen, one in five transport companies has recorded an increase in fuel theft this year, and in April 2026 alone, thieves stole more than 10,000 litres of diesel.

In March, at the Grüner Winkel motorway parking area near Euskirchen in Germany, around 1,600 litres of fuel were stolen from two trucks. The drivers were asleep in their cabs and did not notice the theft.

In France, some operators are already reporting annual losses running into thousands of litres. Transports Quincé said it lost more than 13,800 litres of diesel in 2025. In January 2026 alone, 5,207 litres of fuel worth €6,750 disappeared from the company’s vehicles. Another French carrier put its yearly losses at about €15,000.

Insurance often does not cover the fuel itself

Diesel theft creates several costs at once. Besides the lost fuel, companies may have to pay for damaged caps, filler necks and tanks, leak clean-up, towing and unplanned downtime. Insurance is another issue. Policies often cover damage caused during a break-in, but do not reimburse the value of the stolen fuel.

Carriers also point to time-consuming reporting procedures and the slim chances of recovering the missing diesel. As a result, some thefts may never appear in official statistics.

Locking caps alone are not enough

Reinforced caps, anti-siphon meshes, filler protection systems and fuel level sensors can make theft more difficult, but they are not always enough against a well-prepared gang.

When an organised group moves in, it has the people, the vehicles and the right equipment. At that point, it may already be too late to react, Sensi said.

Italian carriers say the key factor is planning stops in lit, monitored and controlled areas. The period immediately after refuelling requires particular caution, because that is when the value of the fuel on board is highest.

In day-to-day operations, the following measures can also help:

• Anti-siphon meshes that make fuel extraction more difficult.
• Reinforced caps and steel filler locks.
• Alarms triggered by tank opening or a sudden drop in fuel level.
• Telematics monitoring with alerts for unusual fuel consumption.
• Seals that make tampering easier to detect.
• Parking with the filler side close to a wall or another vehicle.
• Choosing guarded truck parks instead of random lay-bys.

Secure parking remains the weak link

For years, the industry has argued that the shortage of safe parking is not just a driver welfare issue.

An unguarded parking area increases the risk of fuel theft, cargo theft and vehicle parts theft, with consequences felt across the supply chain. Surveillance, lighting and physical access control are becoming part of transport security itself, rather than an added convenience.

When diesel prices are high, a full truck tank can effectively become a ready-to-sell load. The Italian cases show that criminals can take it quickly, quietly and without alerting the driver. For operators, protecting fuel increasingly requires the same discipline as protecting the freight on board.