Fuel thieves drain family's oil tank
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A MOTHER-of-two in a small Ross-shire village yesterday voiced disgust after thieves made off with heating oil worth more than £400 – triggering a police warning on fuel security as the temperatures start to drop.
Thieves targeted Julie Mackay’s home on the Black Isle shortly after a tank of heating oil, located in her back garden, was filled.
They broke the cap of the plastic drum container to siphon the liquid, leaving the family at least £400 out of pocket.
Ms Mackay, who lives in High Street, Rosemarkie, yesterday branded those responsible as "despicable".
The theft, which has been reported to the police, has now set the alarm bells ringing for others topping up their tanks ahead of the winter chill.
Ms Mackay said: "I was raging. I switched on the heating and realised it wasn’t working. I went out to the tank to find that they’ve cut the entire cap off and emptied my tank."
The 48-year-old now suspects the criminals may have struck earlier in the year.
She said: "I had a feeling my oil was being stolen after having to refill within two months between April and June. I refilled it again in June and I locked the tank and haven’t had the heating on once since, until now. Last year I only had to fill the tank once. It’s despicable to think someone would do such a thing.
"It’s maybe something that happened months ago but I just haven’t noticed. It’s really quite hard to believe, it’s got to be organised criminals because they must have a tank in the back of their van. You don’t really expect that in a place like Rosemarkie which has got one of the lowest crime rates in the area."
She posted details of the crime on Facebook prompting a run of supportive comments from angry householders.
Another mum said: You should install one of those wildlife cameras, catch them at it. Scumbags."
Someone else said: "You can report it online and see if any other reports in the same area. Really not what you need when it’s so expensive to start with."
A close neighbour said: "Julie get it reported. Happened to me here when first moved in."
A police spokesman yesterday confirmed the matter had been reported and would be investigated.
Police in the Highlands and Islands are urging businesses and householders who store heating oil on their property to be vigilant over the winter months.
Thefts of oil from tanks on farms, commercial premises and private homes have been an issue in the Highlands as fuel prices continue to rise.
Sergeant Richard Ross from the Preventions and Interventions Unit said: "Heating oil thefts are an unnecessary crime, which cause considerable expense and inconvenience for victims.
"As with any other type of theft, criminals will always pick on an easy target if it is available – taking some time to make sure your oil tanks are as secure as possible will often be enough to deter potential thieves.
"It is a good idea to make sure your filler cap is lockable and has a security valve fitted to prevent fuel being drained from the supply pipe. Fuel thieves will always try and find a target where they think they will not be disturbed, so security lights which detect movement are an effective deterrent, while it is always worth fitting an alarm.
"Be vigilant to any suspicious behaviour around your property and report concerns to Police Scotland on 101 as soon as you can."
