Chelsea Shambley
Blog #8
20 March 2011
11:48 pm
As gas prices are raised continuously higher, fuel crime is becoming more and more apparent. In fact, haulage companies say that fuel crime is quickly heading towards becoming a multi-million pound business. Dennis Davenport, UK manager of the haulage firm HMT stated, “The fuel you carry is now more valuable than the cargo.” This seems to be about right, seeing how vehicles parked in depots and lay-bays are increasingly being targeted by fuel thieves. The RHA, which represents a quarter of the UK’s heavy goods vehicles, reported that some companies have lost over 3000 liters of diesel in a single raid. While these thefts are becoming more common, not all of them are being reported to the police. In response to a survey, a quarter of the participants said they had not reported fuel thefts to the police because they felt as if the police did not take it seriously. One participant claimed upon telling the police, he was ignored and the police were not interested in the slightest. Not only are people stealing fuel, there are also criminal gangs who set up plants in which they take the colored dye out of red diesel. Red diesel is taxed at a lower rate than diesel, but should only be used for boats and off-road machinery. By taking the red dye out, the gangs can pass off red diesel as diesel for general use. With the ongoing political turmoil in Libya and the Middle East, it is said that no matter what the government does, the fuel prices are likely to continue increasing.
Fuel prices are ridiculous already; a continuous increase in price is no doubt going to result in further fuel thefts. While people in urban areas could rely on buses or bikes for transportation, I can see how it would be a little harder to afford gas for those who live in rural areas and have to make trips into town on a day-to-day basis. Regardless; stealing gas from other cars? Taking the dye out of red diesel? With this economy, not much seems to be safe or protected anymore.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12786483
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