Diesel thieves cost Pluscrates £4,000

Pluscrates is urging fleet owners to be extra vigilant following a recent fuel theft at the company’s Wembley depot, where thieves made off with 400 litres of diesel and caused extensive damage to six of the company’s 7.5-tonne LDVs.

The company explains the vans were parked nose-to-tail with locked filler caps to make access more difficult, however, thieves crawled underneath the vehicles before ripping out the fuel level sender units, thereby damaging them beyond use and causing debris to fall inside.

In total, the crate-rental specialist says the theft cost the company around £4,000, almost 10-times the value of the diesel stolen.

“This wasn’t a casual theft, these people must have been very well equipped and had a bowser or something to carry the fuel away,” says Pluscrate MD John Mitchell. “We’ve had diesel thefts before, although nothing on this scale; but I guess with fuel prices at a record high, it’s to be expected.”

Commercialmotor.com contacted the local Met police station handling the incident, who confirm they are still awaiting CCTV footage from a neighbouring business to see if the thieves, or their vehicle, has been recorded.