Police Urge Residents To Be Vigilant On Oil Thefts

Officers in the area are asking residents to be vigilant and report any sightings of a suspicious vehicle that may be linked to thefts of domestic heating oil.

The vehicle is described as a small tanker, similar in size to a road sweeper but without the brushes. It is dirty white or grey in colour with no recognisable logo and had two people on board.

Crime Prevention Officer, PC Nic Hanson, said, “Some of the recent thefts of heating oil have involved quantities of 1,000 litres or more being syphoned from domestic tanks. Clearly, this amount of fuel would require a sizeable tank or container in which to store the stolen fuel plus a vehicle to remove it from the scene. Witnesses have seen a vehicle matching this description and assumed it was making a delivery of oil. It has later transpired that the addresses in question were actually the victims of fuel theft rather than deliveries and, whilst we cannot say the occupants of this vehicle are responsible for the thefts, we are keen to speak to them as they may have important information”.

Anyone who sees such a vehicle in rural areas around Boston and Horncastle is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 0300 111 0300.