Haulier blames fuel prices for diesel theft

A West Midlands haulage company has said thieves are motivated by rising fuel prices after they stole 400 litres of diesel.

Martin Pinches, director of M Pinches & Sons Ltd in Worcester, said the fuel was stolen from two vehicles at the weekend.

"[It happened] because of the price of fuel," he claimed, adding that it was "an added cost that everyone has been burdened with."

Pinches said fuel had become "liquid gold" and estimated the missing diesel was worth about £800.

Because we're a business, and we use more fuel, it's a bigger burden on us really," he added.

"It's always a bit disappointing, isn't it?"

Pinches said the thieves also broke numerous fuel sending units and fuel caps on the vehicles, resulting in lost revenue as they were out of action for a day being repaired.

"It does mount up."

West Mercia Police told the BBC it had "received a report of a burglary after a business was broken into sometime between 24 and 25 October.

A force spokesperson said: "It was reported that a large quantity of fuel was stolen from two lorries on the site. Inquiries are ongoing."

During Wednesday's budget, Chancellor John Healey said the 5p "temporary" cut in fuel duty on petrol and diesel, introduced by Rishi Sunak in 2022, would be extended to July. It was scheduled to be phased out from January.

It means drivers will still pay the levy at 52p per litre.

Motor fuel prices have risen sharply owing to the continued impact of the Iran war on drivers, with diesel having recently hit new records when it moved above £2 per litre.

The cost of filling a typical family car with diesel has gone up by around £30 since late February. A tankful of petrol costs about £23 more.

Pitches said something like this happening again is "always in the back of your mind".

"[To prevent it] we will maybe tell the drivers not to fill the lorries up until the morning they're going out".

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