Britain has seen a near-30 per cent surge in fuel thefts at petrol stations which could cost the forecourt sector more than £100 million a year, campaigners have warned.
Diesel prices have increased by 48.6 pence per litre (ppl) while petrol has risen by 25.1ppl since the war in Iran began at the end of February, according to the latest figures by the RAC.
Forecourt Eye, specialising in crime prevention for the petrol industry, reported a 22 per cent rise in “no means of payment” incidents and a 6 per cent rise where offenders just leave without paying, across a sample of 500 forecourts since the conflict in Iran began, according to a report on 10 April.
Motorists can file a “no means of payment” form when they are unable to immediately pay for petrol, but must pay within seven days to prevent the incident from being treated as criminal theft. According to the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS), it is the biggest challenge facing forecourt operators and accounts for two-thirds of all forecourt fuel crime.
The organisation warned that theft levels had now surpassed the 2022 highs that followed Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
BOSS’s fuel debt recovery service, Payment Watch, reported on Sunday that petrol stations had seen a 19 per cent rise in unpaid fuel which was costing the sector more than £100 million a year. The campaigning organisation urged petrol station operators to keep an eye in peak hours for customers entering the store to make small purchases and leave without paying for their fuel.
Claire Nichol, executive director at BOSS, said: “BOSS has seen reports of unpaid fuel jump 19 per cent during March. At current fuel costs, motorists deliberately evading paying for fuel is costing the forecourt sector more than £100 million a year.
“We would urge forecourt operators to be extra vigilant during peak periods and be aware of customers entering a store, making small purchases and not paying for fuel.”
Oil prices surged after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) took control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for oil tankers. Prices for Brent Crude, considered to be the global benchmark for oil as a commodity, peaked at $119 (£88) per barrel in March as global tensions heightened.
The cost of crude had tumbled on Friday after Iran had declared the shipping route open, but as the market opened on Monday, prices were around $95 (£70) while US president Donald Trump navigates negotiations with Iranian leadership to end the war once and for all.
Tensions flared overnight after the US Navy fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it ignored orders to stop while exiting Hormuz.
Mr Trump said a US negotiating team would be in Islamabad from Monday evening, but if Tehran did not reach an accord, his military would “knock out every single power plant and every single bridge in Iran”, warning there would be “no more Mr Nice Guy”.
Reports on Iranian state media suggested Tehran would not take part in talks.
Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has said that any deal must not allow Iran to charge tolls for passage through the strait.
She said: “Proposals have been circulating from Iran to introduce tolls on the strait once the conflict is concluded.
“Since the call I convened with more than 40 countries at the start of April, we have been working to build an international consensus both on the urgency of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and on the principle that freedom of navigation must be restored in full, without restrictions or tolls.
“It is clear to me from my talks that an increasing number of countries are now joining the UK in insisting that there is no sustainable resolution to the closure of Hormuz that leaves the Iranian regime charging for access.”
