Gangs of diesel thieves threaten to slash tyres
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Truck drivers are being offered cash for the diesel in their fuel tanks and threatened that their tyres will be slashed if they refuse to co-operate.
Gangs are approaching drivers in lay-bys„ asking for the fuel at knock-down prices.
The idea is that drivers can tell employers they used the fuel and pocket the cash themselves. The gangs come with equipment to remove the diesel.
Frank Moss of Moss Transport in Stoke, says that three of his drivers have been approached so far by different people in Northampton, Middlesbrough and Cardiff.
He says: "It's so widespread geographically that I think it's probably happening to a lot of other operators as well. My drivers have simply driven off when it happens, so we haven't had any tyres slashed yet. But the problem is that one day they might not get away. Also it could raise problems of driving in a rest period which is obviously not what you want on your tachograph."
The approaches always happen when the vehicles are parked in lay-bys after dark. Although Moss has briefed all his drivers on the problem he has not yet told the police. "I don't think there is a lot they could do about it," he says.
Moss Transport runs a fleet of seven 38-tonne artics and three rigids. So for it has always been the cirtics that have been targeted by the gangs.