A Sydney man is evading capture after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of fuel from a family-run petrol station in Mascot. The incident took place on a Saturday, during which the man was recorded on CCTV filling jerry cans with around 600 litres of diesel, amounting to a bill of $2,874 that he did not pay.
Before the theft, the suspect interacted with the petrol station attendant, and in his haste to flee, he nearly drove over the attendant as he sped away. The attendant pursued him down Baxter Road, but the thief managed to escape, and a check of the vehicle’s number plates revealed it was stolen.
Diann Melas, the operations manager for Budget Petrol, expressed frustration over the incident, describing it as disappointing for their business. She emphasised that each store operates independently as a family-owned business, and such thefts directly impact their financial viability.
The rising cost of fuel, exacerbated by a national crisis, has led to a significant increase in fuel thefts, with reports indicating a surge of up to 50% according to the Australian Association of Convenience Stores. This issue isn’t limited to urban areas; in rural Queensland, a man has been charged with stealing 1,000 litres of diesel from a property after siphoning it from a storage container with his ute.
In this rural case, police reported that the theft occurred between April 1 and April 3, when the 59-year-old drove to a property in Yelarbon, roughly four hours west of the Gold Coast. Following a community tip-off, authorities located the man and his vehicle, and he has been charged with theft, with a court appearance scheduled.
As diesel prices climb to over $3 per litre, authorities are urging farmers to take proactive measures to safeguard their fuel supplies. Recommendations include securing storage areas, installing security cameras, and keeping fuel out of direct sight from roads to deter potential thieves.