Householders have reported thefts of home heating oil from tanks in recent days.
The thefts have occurred in the Carnalbanagh and Glenwherry areas of Co Antrim.
It comes as 900 litres of oil is now priced at over £1,000.
The advice is to ensure oil tanks are locked and inaccessible for thieves.
Petrol and diesel prices have also risen, leading to fears many families are being pushed into poverty.
Here is some advice from the PSNI –
- Lock your gates – The simple act of keeping your garden or drive gates closed and securely locked can prevent a theft. Ensure that all gates and fences are in good repair.
- Disguise your tank – Consider fencing, trellis and defensive planting. The planting of hostile, thorny shrubs around your tank and boundaries can provide extra protection. Good examples of defensive plants are Pyracantha, Berberis, Climbing Rose, Hawthorn and even Gooseberry.
- Create obstacles – Plant pots and general garden paraphernalia can be placed in the path of any potential intruders. They will make noise and waste time moving the items or navigating around them. Remove and secure any tools or ladders which could be used as an aide to commit crime.
- Limit the quantity of fuel in your tank – Full tanks are a more popular target, so consider limiting the amount of oil that you have in your tank at any one time.
- Lock your tank – Use a good quality, alarmed padlock or install lockable caps with crop proof fittings. Where possible fit hardened flexible casings to any vulnerable fuel hoses so that they are harder to cut.
- Fit a ‘level gauge’ with audible alarm – The alarm should sound if the oil level in the tank suddenly drops, or falls below a certain point.
- Consider installing security Lighting and CCTV – Lights can not only warn you of an intruder but also alert neighbours and passing patrols.
- Install a ‘tank cage or guard’ – This is particularly important if you have already suffered a fuel theft. These welded cages offer the best protection while still allowing tanker access. Although this solution may seem expensive, when weighted up against the cost of lost fuel and/or a new tank that may be damaged during fuel theft, it can prove more cost effective in the long term. Such cages can also be alarmed as an additional layer of security.
- Site your tank cleverly – If you have cause to re-site your tank or are installing a fuel tank for the first time, ensure that it is placed in a secure location – visible from your home and surrounding properties but not from the road.
- Don’t leave scrap metal in view – By removing any scrap metal from the view of potential offenders, you can avoid drawing attention to your property or your fuel tank! The Oil Firing Technical Association for the petroleum industry (OFTEC) offers advice and guidance for those who use and store oil on their premises. There are certain rules and regulations that may apply to you and OFTEC will help clarify these for you. They can be reached at www.oftec.org.uk or by calling 0845 6585 080. They also produce an ‘Easy guide to domestic oil storage’ which is very straightforward and useful. It may be possible to include heating oil and diesel on your insurance. Contact your insurer for details.