Petrol theft nearly doubles in the Latrobe Valley

Opportunistic thieves are stealing petrol at rapid rates across Victoria as service station staff are left helpless behind the counter.

 

Brazen drivers are speeding off with millions of dollars worth of unpaid fuel amid a surge in petrol theft across Victoria, as offences almost double in some areas.

Crime Statistics Agency data released to the Herald Sun revealed Victoria experienced an 11 per cent increase in petrol “drive offs” in the year to June 2024 — after nearly 5000 offences were recorded.

It’s estimated more than $22m worth of fuel was stolen from Victorian petrol stations last year.

Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association chief executive Mark McKenzie said Victoria often had the highest loss in the country every year — recently ranging between $22m and $23m.

“In terms of total theft, Victoria has the dubious honour of being the one state with the highest loss for drive offs,” he said.

“It’s the rest of us who are paying for our fuel legally that are paying that cost.

“That cost is one the biggest issues and challenges for us. It can also have some competition effects if certain service stations are targeted all the time then their ability to compete is diminished.”

Petrol theft has nearly doubled in the Latrobe Valley in the past year. Picture: Jack Colantuono

The City of Casey in Melbourne’s southeast recorded the most petrol theft in the year to June 2024, after 346 offences were recorded — a 28 per cent increase from the previous year.

Whittlesea, Melton, Greater Dandenong and Wyndham also had increased petrol thefts, making a significant contributing to the 4829 recorded offences across the state.

Latrobe Valley saw one of the biggest spikes in petrol theft in Victoria, after recorded offences nearly doubled — from 86 in 2023 to 154.

Liberty Oil Traralgon manager Sunil Karnati said petrol was being stolen from his business “every two to three days”.

“The worst part is you can’t do anything about it … it’s quite frequent,” Mr Karnati said.

“And before it was people with fake plates but now even when the plates are still registered, they still do it, they don’t care.”

Liberty Oil Traralgon store manager Abrar Waseem (left) and owner Sunil Karnati (right) says petrol theft at their station has impacted the business. Picture: Jack Colantuono

He said Liberty service stations in Newborough and Morwell were also regularly targeted by thieves.

“The only threat I am facing at the moment is the drive-offs,” he said.

“We aren’t allowed to chase them, we aren’t allowed to block them so what we do is record the footage and send it to the authorities.

“I’ve been working in the fuel station for four years and never have I seen someone who has driven off come back and pay after they get caught by the cops.

“If the customer sometimes forgets, like the genuine customers, they come back and pay.”

Mr Karnati said more security measures, like a “scan cam”, needed to be added to service stations across the state.

“I think in a few fuel stations they have this (scan cam) and whenever a car comes in, it picks up the plates, and if it’s a fake plate or an expired rego, it gives us an alarm at the console,” he said.

Other companies such as Endeavour in Traralgon have set up prepaid self service stations to stop drive offs.

The Endeavour service station on Princes St in Traralgon is prepaid and fully self-serviced for customers. Picture: Jack Colantuono

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said reports of petrol theft were taken seriously.

“We engage with retailers to reiterate the importance of enhanced security measures to help prevent crimes,” she said.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.