Fuel thieves target haulage firm

Howleys lorries have had anti-siphon devices bypassed during the thefts

A haulage firm already facing pressure because of the high cost of fuel is struggling to cope with thefts of diesel as prices soar.

Howley's Transport, of Castleford, West Yorkshire, has been targeted twice in a week by thieves who have siphoned off thousands of pounds of fuel.

The family-run business said conditions were tough enough without the double loss of fuel stocks.

The Road Haulage Association said the price was encouraging fuel thefts.

The firm's spokeswoman Liz Howley said: "On Sunday they managed to either drill holes in the tanks or override some of the anti-siphon devices.

"Then on Thursday night they came back and they took more diesel, this time they've taken over £12,000 worth of diesel fuel."

Organised criminals and gangs get involved and can actually make money out of it Road Haulage Association

One driver said that when crews park up either just off the road or at truck stops they sometimes get up on a morning and find the diesel has been stolen from the lorry's tank.

"It's happened four times to me, costing at least £250 a time."

Geoff Marriot, of the Road Haulage Association, said the price of fuel was driving the increase in diesel thefts.

"It's now come to a stage where particularly organised criminals and gangs get involved and can actually make money out of it."

Howley's have now spent over £4,000 on cameras, lights and additional security measures.

Ms Howley added: "I'm extremely worried for this company. We're a small family run business, we're managing to just sustain this (level of fuel price) at the minute.

"But if the price of fuel does go up, then we can only pass so much on to our customers before they start to say: 'Hang on a minute'."

West Yorkshire Police said such thefts on a large scale meant criminals were selling the fuel on to other individuals, so if anyone was aware of fuel being offered for sale they should contact police.