(HURON COUNTY, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is offering the following tips to the public to help prevent fuel theft following some recent cases that have taken place in Huron County.
On January 16, 2017 at approximately 5:30 a.m. an attempt was made to siphon gasoline from a company vehicle parked at a business located on Victoria Street in Gorrie. The suspect was unsuccessful, thanks to a locking gas cap that had been installed by the owner. The suspect was operating a Ford F-250 extended cab with a large dent in the passenger side of the vehicle.
Huron OPP is also investigating two thefts of fuel that took place on back to back nights this week in Fordwich. On Monday, January 30th around 7:15 p.m. a male suspect attended a business located on Old Mill Street and used a hose to siphon fuel from one of the company vehicles. He used a red plastic fuel canister to transport the stolen fuel.
The following evening a vehicle owner from Louisa Street also reported someone stole some fuel from their vehicle.
Here are some tips to help prevent fuel theft:
CONSUMERS/HOMEOWNERS
Consider installing a locking gas cap.
Avoid parking in dark, isolated areas – especially for extended periods of time.
Park your vehicle in a locked garage. If you don’t have a garage, park next to the house in a well-lit area.
If you have to park on the street or in a parking lot. Park your vehicle so the fuel door is plainly visible.
If you have bulk fuels on your property, lock the tank and the dispenser to prevent unauthorized access. Ensure the power supply to the pump is turned off.
Call the police if you see suspicious activity around fuel tanks or parked vehicles. Try to record suspect / suspect vehicle descriptions.
A barking dog can act as a great tool to deter criminal activity on your property.
Be suspicious of any strangers that enter onto your property, keep in mind they may be scoping out your property.
RETAILERS
Consider prepayment or pay at pump.
Install and maintain a high quality video surveillance system.
Be alert and vigilant. Consider greeting customers over an intercom system.
Record licence plate numbers before activating fuel pump.
Locate the cash drawer so the clerk has an unobstructed view of the fuel pumps.
Consider a reward system for customers that provide information that leads to identifying a gas thief.
If you have a gas theft, record the date, time, suspect description, vehicle description and licence plate number.
Anyone interested in more information on crime prevention tips can visit the Crime Prevention page at http://www.opp.ca/
Huron County OPP is requesting anyone with information about these recent fuel thefts or any others to call police at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
