Heating oil stolen on main road

There have been a rising number of thefts from domestic fuel tanks

Police are appealing for information after 500 litres of heating oil was stolen from a property in Cornwall.

The theft, from Winsor House in Pelynt, took place between 17 and 31 July.

The house stands on the main B3359 road and officers believe a vehicle would have been parked outside while the oil was siphoned away.

There have been a number of similar thefts in Devon and Cornwall so far this year. It is believed they could be linked to high fuel prices.

Heating oil has gone up from 33p a litre at the start of 2008 to about 56p a litre now.

According to insurer NFU, mutual heating oil theft is a relatively "new" crime. It had no claims for stolen heating oil last year, but this year has already had more than 50.

About three quarters of rural homes use heating oil.

It is often stored in tanks outside and police have appealed to homeowners to make sure they are properly secured.