Fuel theft. How to protect yourself?
High fuel prices are fueling demand for diesel and gasoline from illegal sources. Thieves are taking advantage of the boom, and both private car owners and owners of fleet companies are suffering.
In mid-December, police officers from Kielce detained two 19-year-old boys suspected of stealing fuel from car tanks. They were reached with the help of drills and screwdrivers. In Jelenia Góra, men in uniform arrested men who confessed to stealing more than 500 liters of fuel from cars. Another target was chosen by a 38-year-old resident of Bilgorai, who, among other things, obtained a valuable liquid. from construction equipment - he was accused of stealing 600 liters of diesel fuel. Officers from Wolomin took the topic of fuel theft so seriously that they released a guide to help protect against this practice.
From the point of view of vehicle owners, the losses are not only related to fuel costs. The actions of lovers of other people's property often damage tanks. As a result, the costs are often in the thousands of zlotys. Not surprisingly, to protect their property and deter thieves, drivers and fleet managers are investing in monitoring systems that allow them to take care of both the car (in the event of a theft) and the valuable fuel in its tank.
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Tracking modules installed in cars, trucks or construction vehicles allow you to constantly monitor vehicle parameters, including starting and stopping the engine, routes traveled or average speed. Complementing the system with appropriate sensors, information is also available on the opening of the fuel tank cap or sudden loss of fuel.
“Such information in the form of alerts is sent to the mobile device of the vehicle owner or fleet manager. The data can be received via the app or SMS. This provides an immediate response that will allow the thief to be caught red-handed,” said Cesaree Ezman, research and development manager at Gannet Guard Systems. “From the point of view of fleet managers, monitoring has the advantage that it reveals the actions of unscrupulous employees who drain fuel from tanks,” he adds.
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