Petrol theft reaches record highs in NSW as the price of unleaded rises above $2/L
Petrol theft has reached record highs in NSW this year, even before the price of unleaded rose above the $2-per-litre mark now consistently being seen at service stations. See the worst 10 local government areas for fuel theft.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Petrol theft has reached record highs in NSW this year, even before the price of unleaded rose above the $2-per-litre mark now consistently being seen at service stations.
Driving off without paying for your tank peaked in March when almost 1,300 people across the state were charged by NSW Police with the offence, as the price of fuel hovered around the high $1.80-per-litre mark.
New data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research shows bowser bandits are now at their highest numbers in a decade, coinciding with the seemingly never ending increases to cost of living.
After an understandable drop off in the crime during the Covid-19 pandemic, fuel theft has peaked with 11,673 incidents in the year to June 2023 – with the worst month being 1,272 petrol drive-bys in March.
Concerningly, the most recent data does not yet take into account thefts after the significant price rise in August to a maximum $2.08, and then again in September to as high as $2.17.
NSW Police Robbery and Serious Crime Squad boss Joe Doueihi said officers work closely with businesses to limit the ease with which motorists can drive-off without paying for petrol.
Detective Superintendent Doueihi said while he is empathetic to the pressures record breaking petrol price highs are having on households, there is no excuse for stealing.
“Times are financially tough for many people, but we want to remind the community failing to pay for fuel is an offence that police take seriously,” Det Supt Doueihi said.
“The NSWPF provide a number of recommendations to petrol station owners to deter petrol theft. These recommendations include ensuring a line of sight between staff and the bowser forecourt, as well as installing good lighting and CCTV.
“Employers should make sure their attendants are aware of the risks of petrol theft and know the steps they can take to avoid it, like staying alert during busy periods, and looking out for suspicious behaviour.”
According to BOCSAR the top three government areas for fuel theft are Blacktown, Canterbury-Bankstown and the Central Coast.
Sydney driver Isabella Saint Brook said she is struggling to fill her tank weekly, with the rising price of petrol forcing her to put off driving all together.
“I used to fill up a full tank for $40. Now that won’t even get me half a tank,” she said holding a $50 note in her hand.
“This is all I have to spend (on fuel).”
The 26 year-old said the record high-prices this year have meant she has had to “live life a little less.”
“You ask friends to pay you when you drop them five minutes. It’s annoying,” the Coogee local said.
“I am lucky I don’t have to drive for a living. I can’t imagine factoring it into my everyday costs.
Ms Saint Brook said she empathised with people who were reduced to having to drive off without paying for their petrol amid the cost of living crisis.
NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury rubbished suggestions that petrol stations should move to only sell prepaid fuel as is commonplace in the United States, in a bid to reduce petrol theft.
“Is that system really workable here in Australia?“ he said.
“What we would prefer people to do is not break the law.
“Petrol prices going up are global and out of control of anyone in Australia. There really is no justification for stealing fuel or for stealing anything.
“Every service station has cameras over the place so you’re going to get caught, so please don’t do it.”
But in some good news for commuters, Mr Khoury said relief at the bowser was on the horizon with the price of fuel expected to fall by at least seven cents a barrel, and eight cents a litre.
“That should pass onto motorists in Sydney. Prices are falling very slowly, less than a cent a day,” he said.
Times have been so tough for motorists that some Sydneysiders have even claimed to have had the petrol stolen out of their tanks after parking their cars on the street.
A Haberfield woman took to social media last week claiming her petrol had been siphoned out of her car overnight.
“I have just gotten into my car and noticed that my petrol has been completely depleted,” the woman wrote.
“There’s no leak so I’m assuming this has happened overnight where someone has funnelled it out.”
Splashdown! Day of disaster for Aussies in women’s America’s Cup
The women’s America’s Cup dream of an Australian crew is over after just two days of racing, a disastrous touchdown, a broken start penalty and erratic conditions. How it played out.
Council awarded more than $600k in compo battle over park, golf club
A Sydney council has secured a legal win against the NSW Government after disputing the amount of compensation it would receive for land forcibly acquired for a major tunnel project.