Fuel Theft Prompts Warning in Hampshire

If the average LGV driver did not have enough to worry about, there is now something else to add to the list when driving through Hampshire – fuel theft. Local police in Burghclere are warning drivers to be careful after 200 litres of diesel fuel were stolen from a truck parked at a layby on the A34.

According to reports, the vehicle was parked just south of Tot Hill Services while the driver slept inside. Police are asking for help from anyone who might have seen anything unusual along the motorway either late Wednesday (April 9) or early Thursday morning. Police are also warning HGV drivers along the motorway to follow some basic rules of caution:

• when parking next to other lorries, park as closely as possible to prevent access to fuel tanks
• consider purchasing a device which sounds an alarm when fuel tanks or tampered with
• avoid locking fuel caps; thieves can cause greater damage by breaking in
• always park in well-lit areas, near other lorries were possible
• when parking on the road, make sure fuel tanks can be easily seen by passing motorists.

Obviously, caution is always the best policy when parking for the night. Being cautious will not eliminate all fuel thefts, but it will reduce the likelihood that you will be the next victim.

Part of the Industry

It is unfortunate to have to report on stories like this, but fuel thefts are part of the driving industry. There is a segment of society that feels they have the right to take whatever they, for whatever purpose. Rising fuel costs mean that lorry drivers are now targets of those thieves.

The HGV Training Centre fully supports the idea of using extreme caution when parking for the night. We agree with all of the tips offered by the local police after this latest theft. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula in place that can stop all of these incidents. The best we can do is make sure we are diligent at all times. To that end, we would add one more suggestion to the list offered by the police: always be aware of your surroundings.

Part of LGV driver training is to pay attention to your surroundings while you are driving. However, should that not also be true when you are parked? When you pull into a spot to take your mandatory rest time, take a moment to get out and look around. Get to know the surrounding area while looking for any possible opportunity your chosen parking space might present to thieves. If your current surroundings are too risky, move to a safer location.

The HGV Training Centre is proud to offer comprehensive LGV driver training to both individual and company drivers throughout the UK. Feel free to contact us if you are interested in becoming a professional driver. If you are a fleet manager, you should know that we also offer CPC driver training as well. Now is the time to make sure your company drivers are CPC qualified.

Sources:

1. Newbury Today – http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2014/security-alert-for-lorry-drivers-after-burghclere-diesel-theft