Diesel thefts rise in regional NSW as prices soar amid Middle East war
Farmers are reporting extended wait periods for deliveries of bulk fuel. (ABC Central West: Hamish Cole)
In short:
The NSW Police's Rural Crime Team is reporting an increase of diesel thefts from farms as prices continue to rise.
Officers are investigating thousands of litres of fuel that have allegedly been stolen from properties across regional NSW.
What's next?
Anyone who suspects fuel has been taken from their property or that stolen supplies are being sold is encouraged to report it to NSW Police.
Farmers and business owners in New South Wales are being warned fuel thefts are on the rise as oil prices soar amid the war in the Middle East.
The NSW Rural Crime Prevention team has received multiple reports of diesel being stolen in the past two weeks.
Police are investigating the theft of 800 litres of diesel from a property around Orange, as well as 500L allegedly stolen from a farm at Nyngan, west of Dubbo.
A fuel trailer that was stolen from a property near Orange between February 22 and March 1. (Supplied: NSW Police)
Other reports include 180L taken from a truck on a farm at Duri, near Tamworth, and about 150L from a fuel storage at Collie, west of Gilgandra.
"In agriculture, whenever the cost of commodities go up or items used on the farm, they tend to get stolen more," Detective Acting Inspector Andrew McLean said.
"With fuel prices the way they are … we would expect we're going to see continued reports of theft, particularly diesel from farms,"he said.
The average diesel price in NSW has risen from an average of 182 cents per litre in February to more than 260 c/L in mid-March.
The International Energy Agency's latest oil market report said the war in the Middle East was responsible for "creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market", with crude and oil disrupted in the Strait of Hormuz.
There are increasing reports of diesel thefts in regional NSW as prices continue to rise. (ABC Central West: Hamish Cole)
The major supply chain disruptions are causing some petrol stations to run dry.
People in regional areas have reported weeks-long waits to get their bulk diesel stocks replenished
"Farmers need their diesel to get their crops in, and spray their crops and run their equipment," Acting Inspector McLean said.
"It's not only become an issue of a cost implication to farms but just with concerns about supply at the moment we're very well aware that it could become a food security issue.
"Any disruption to the supply of diesel is of great concern to us."
Fuel theft victim
Beetroot farmer Ed Fagan estimates more than 1,000L of diesel was taken from engines that drive pumps on his property at Cowra in late January.
"They had quite an elaborate system where they would cut into the delivery line out of the tank … and it went into an open door on the side of the van where they were filling 20L drums," Mr Fagan said.
Police are investigating a diesel theft at Ed Fagan's farm. (ABC News: Hugh Hogan)
"They'd been at it for a while. This wasn't their first go," he said.
Police have conducted a search warrant and seized a van allegedly used in the theft.
No arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing.
Mr Fagan said diesel thefts were an "ongoing problem" that affected his neighbours and contractors in the area but the broader supply chain issues were making the issue far worse.
"One — it costs a lot, the price of fuel has gone up by at least a dollar a litre in the last two weeks, so it's a massive rise," Mr Fagan said.
"Secondly — the availability. If we were ordering bulk fuel at the moment, the wait is about three weeks," he said.
"When you're an irrigator, that's just not an option."
Boost security and report it
Landholders are urged to implement security measures, including fuel monitoring systems, gate sensors and CCTV around fuel storage on farms and where vehicles are stored.
People should also keep an eye out for suspicious cars in their communities, particularly late at night and those carrying 44-gallon drums or jerry cans.
Diesel sold at a major discount may be an indication the product is stolen.
"We are appealing to the public in this current environment to report all fuel theft," Acting Inspector McLean said.
Police ask anyone who suspects fuel has been taken to not disturb the area, to help maintain the crime scene, and report it immediately.
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