Diesel Thefts Surge as Fuel Prices Bite: What Every Driver Should Know

There is a particular kind of dread that comes with watching the pump numbers climb. You look at the display, wince, and perhaps wonder how much longer you can keep doing the school run, the commute and the weekend trip to see family without something giving way.

For a growing number of motorists, something already has. A Daily Mail report suggests that half of drivers have changed their habits because of higher fuel prices. It also says diesel thefts have risen twice as much as petrol "bilking" (driving off without paying) since March. This post looks at what sits behind those headlines, where the law stands on fuel theft, and how to protect yourself and your wallet.

What the report says

The Mail's coverage makes three main points:

• Habits are changing. Around half of drivers say they have altered how they drive or travel because of fuel costs.
• Diesel crime is rising faster than petrol crime. Since March, diesel thefts have increased twice as much as petrol bilking.
• Filling up costs far more than it did. A 70-litre tank, roughly what a larger family car or SUV might hold, costs substantially more than it did two years earlier.

I will not pad this with figures the report does not give. The direction of travel is clear enough: expensive fuel changes behaviour, and some of that behaviour is criminal.

Why diesel and petrol crime are different

The comparison in the headline is worth unpacking, because "diesel thefts" and "petrol bilking" are not quite the same offence.

Bilking is the forecourt crime most people picture. Someone fills up and drives off without paying.

Diesel theft usually means something different: siphoning fuel from a parked vehicle, or draining it from a tank at a depot, farm or building site. Diesel is the lifeblood of vans, lorries, agricultural machinery and plant equipment, and these are often left unattended overnight in quiet spots. A thief can take a large quantity in minutes. Diesel is also less volatile than petrol, which some criminals find easier to handle.

This is a plausible reason why the two crimes can move at different rates. When pump prices rise, opportunistic drive-offs may tick up among people who feel squeezed. Organised or semi-organised theft of diesel from commercial vehicles may rise because the fuel is simply more valuable to resell. Treat that as reasoning, not a finding. The report gives the trend, not the motive.

The knock-on effects reach well beyond the victim. Tradespeople lose working days when their van is drained. Haulage firms face disruption. Forecourts may respond by tightening pay-before-you-pump rules, which inconveniences everyone else.

Why the price squeeze changes behaviour

Half of drivers adjusting their habits is, if anything, unsurprising. Fuel is one of the few household costs that is both unavoidable for many people and highly visible. You cannot pay it off monthly by direct debit and forget about it. You feel it every time you fill up.

Common responses include combining errands into one trip, using public transport where it exists, car sharing, dropping speed on motorways, and choosing cheaper forecourts. Our guide to cutting fuel costs by driving at 60mph covers the driving-style side. Here I want to look at the legal and practical pitfalls that come with penny-pinching, because some well-meant savings carry risks.

The legal angle

Making off without payment

In England and Wales, driving away from a forecourt without paying is covered by section 3 of the Theft Act 1978, "making off without payment". The offence requires that the person knew payment on the spot was required or expected, and made off dishonestly with the intention of avoiding payment. On indictment, the maximum sentence is two years' imprisonment.

Two points matter for ordinary drivers:

1. Intent is central. Genuinely forgetting to pay, perhaps because a child was screaming in the back or you were distracted, is not the same as dishonestly avoiding payment. That does not make it trouble-free, as the next section explains, but the law distinguishes between the two.
2. Scotland differs. The 1978 Act applies in England and Wales. Scottish law deals with this conduct under its own common law, and Northern Ireland has its own legislation.

Forgetting to pay: what usually happens

Forecourt ANPR cameras record number plates, and operators can request keeper details from the DVLA where they have reasonable cause. Many forecourts also take part in schemes that let a driver who simply forgot pay up, sometimes with an added admin charge, before things escalate to police involvement.

If you realise you have driven off without paying, the sensible course is to contact the station promptly, explain what happened and pay. Do not wait for a letter. For more on how demands for payment work, and what you can and cannot be asked to pay, see our explainer on whether you have to pay when a petrol station demands money. If you receive a demand that looks inflated or wrong, official guidance and independent advice are worth seeking before you pay.

Siphoning and fuel theft

Taking fuel from someone's tank without consent is theft under section 1 of the Theft Act 1968. If the thief damages the vehicle to get at the tank, such as drilling it or breaking a filler neck, criminal damage may also be involved. Where fuel is stolen from commercial premises, additional offences such as burglary may come into play depending on how entry was gained.

Buying "cheap" diesel from strangers

Rising prices make dodgy deals more tempting. A man in a pub car park offering diesel at half the pump price should set alarm bells ringing, for several reasons:

• Handling stolen goods. Under section 22 of the Theft Act 1968, dishonestly receiving or dealing in goods you know or believe to be stolen is an offence.
• Rebated fuel. Red diesel is taxed at a lower rate and is restricted for use in road vehicles. Using rebated fuel in a road vehicle can bring HMRC penalties and seizure of the fuel.
• Contamination. Illicit fuel may be mixed, diluted or tainted. A damaged engine is a costly way to save a few pounds. Our piece on drivers still unpaid after fuel contamination shows how painful a bad tank can be even when it comes from a legitimate pump.

What drivers should know: practical advice

Protecting your own fuel

If you drive a diesel van or leave a vehicle parked overnight, consider:

• Locking fuel caps. An inexpensive deterrent that makes siphoning harder.
• Parking smartly. Well-lit, overlooked spots with CCTV beat dark lanes and industrial estates. Where possible, park with the filler cap facing a wall or fence.
• Fuel tank guards or anti-siphon devices. Some vehicles can be fitted with these. Speak to a reputable garage or your dealer.
• Telling your insurer where you park. Details matter for claims.

If your fuel is stolen, report it to the police and get a crime reference number. Check your policy wording on fuel theft and any excess. Some policies treat it as theft of contents, others have limits, and any damage to the tank or lines is a separate question.

At the pump

• Pay before leaving the forecourt, every time. Make it a habit even if you are in a rush. If you pay at the pump with a card, confirm the receipt.
• Pay-at-pump and app payments reduce the chance of an accidental drive-off.
• Check the pump price before you fill. Pricing signs on the road can differ from pump displays, and our guide to using Google Maps to find cheaper petrol explains how to compare prices in advance.

Cost-cutting that can backfire

When money is tight, some savings carry legal or safety consequences:

• Under-maintaining the car. Skipping servicing to save money can cost more in fuel economy and repairs. Tyres must have at least 1.6mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the breadth, and driving on illegal tyres can bring a fine and penalty points per tyre.
• Skipping MOT or tax. Driving without a valid MOT or vehicle tax can cost you far more than the fuel you saved. Check your records with the DVLA.
• Car sharing. Sharing journey costs with colleagues or friends is generally acceptable provided you are not making a profit from carrying passengers. Check your insurer's position if a regular arrangement develops, so you do not unwittingly breach policy terms.
• Coasting or "hypermiling" tricks. Driving in neutral or turning the engine off while moving is unsafe and can be treated as driving without due care. Stick to smoothness and anticipation instead.
• Parking further away. Walking further to free or cheaper parking is fine, but do not stray onto double yellows, pavements or restricted bays to save a few pounds. A penalty charge will dwarf any saving.

If you are a business or fleet driver

Employers and self-employed drivers should review where vehicles are left overnight and whether fuel cards, locked tanks and tracking are in place. Keep records of fuel purchases for tax purposes, and make sure employees understand what to do if a drive-off or theft occurs.

Looking ahead

If fuel stays expensive, expect more of everything in the report: more changed habits, more forecourt crime and more pressure on both drivers and retailers.

Several things are worth watching:

• Forecourt policy. More stations may move to pay-before-you-pump or tighter checks, particularly where bilking is a problem.
• Enforcement. Police resources are stretched, but forecourt ANPR and data-sharing make it easier than it used to be to trace a vehicle.
• Pricing transparency. Government and regulators have been paying closer attention to how pump prices are set and displayed, which could help drivers shop around.
• Longer-term shifts. Persistent high fuel costs are one reason some households look at electric vehicles, hybrids or simply driving less. Whether they stay the course depends on prices, grants and charging costs.

The takeaway

Higher prices change behaviour, and not always for the better. The sensible response is to cut cost without cutting corners: drive smoothly, shop around, share journeys legitimately, and keep your vehicle legal and maintained. Protect your tank, and always pay before you leave the forecourt. If something does go wrong, whether you forgot to pay or someone has drained your tank, act quickly, keep records and seek official guidance or professional advice where the stakes are high.

This article offers general information about UK motoring rules and is not legal advice. If you face a specific charge or dispute, speak to a qualified adviser or consult official guidance from gov.uk.

Source: Daily Mail reporting on drivers' changing habits and rising fuel theft.