Rise in fuel siphoning from cars

Fuel prices have reached record levels at the pumps

Police have reported an increase in thefts from vehicles in Dorset, in particular a growth in fuel siphoning.

In the last month, officers have received 10 reports of petrol being taken from vehicles at a time when fuel prices have reached record levels.

Detectives in Bournemouth and Poole want car owners to be extra vigilant.

Det Insp Stewart Balmer, of Dorset Police, said: "There is no discrimination in the models of cars being targeted."

Performance tools

He added: "The person or people responsible have prised open the petrol caps and only been unsuccessful where the cap can only be released from inside the vehicle.

"The amount of fuel stolen varies from an attempted theft... to up to 10 litres being siphoned off."

The price of crude oil reached a record high on Thursday at $124.61 (£69) a barrel, and at the pumps a litre of unleaded is hovering around the £1.10 mark in Dorset.

Also, Det Insp Balmer said there had been a general increase in the number of thefts from vehicles in urban areas of the county, from builders vans - where performance tools are stolen - to family cars, where stereos, laptops and bags are taken.

He added: "This is disappointing after the success we have had tackling this type of crime in recent years."