Be on the look-out for heating oil theft
Wednesday April 30 2008
On the Line – By Seamus Finn
Things have come to such a sorry pass nowadays that you have to wonder is there anything safe around the house.The latest is that home-owners are being warned to be vigilant after a surge in home heating oil thefts has left unlucky families out of pocket.
Several recent incidents have seen thieves target quiet, rural communities, siphoning fuel from oil storage tanks outside people’s homes, leaving them with little or no fuel. Most victims have been completely unaware that anything was wrong until their heating stopped working because they had run out of oil.
Operating in secluded areas or where they can approach oil tanks in darkness or under the cover of trees, thieves have been getting their hands on an expensive commodity.
The rise in oil prices is thought to have led to the increased number thefts.
The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) - the body representing the oil heating and cooking industry - is urging homeowners to be vigilant and to take precautions to protect their fuel oil.
OFTEC’s Director General Jeremy Hawksley said: "Usually it is only when people run out of oil that theft becomes apparent, but regularly making a note of your oil levels and taking simple preventative measures will help to make sure that you are not the victim of oil theft."
Here are OFTEC’s top tips for protecting your heating oil: Check the level of fuel in your tank regularly so that you are sure that none has gone missing and you always know how much fuel you have.
• Purchase a padlock for your tank. Most tanks can be locked at the inspection cover. There are also lockable filler caps available that can be retro fitted to oil tanks.
• Install security lights that come on when there is movement in the garden.This is a good deterrent to stop intruders in their tracks.
• Consider having a simple alarm system fitted. An inexpensive infa-red model will alert you if there is an intruder on your property and deter a thief.
• Be vigilant. If there is a tanker lorry or a suspicious vehicle in the area spend a few moments thinking about what they are doing. Listen out for the sound of an electric pump coming from the vehicle because this is how thieves will siphon fuel from the tank.
• If your tank is in a remote area, you might consider having it moved to a more visible spot. Do not try and conceal it with a fence or panels. This could be illegal and cause a fire hazard. Your oil technician can advise on current regulations.
• Consider installing security gates at your property. This will make it harder for thieves to gain access to your grounds and protect the area where your oil tank is kept.
• Report any suspicious activity to the police. OFTEC operates a Competent Persons Scheme and has a list of its technicians on its website at www.oftec.org.
By going through the OFTEC website to find a tradesperson, you can rest assured that your heating and plumbing engineer will be competent, qualified and insured to carry out oil firing work in your home.
They can also advise on energy efficiency and oil tank security.
OFTEC can be found at www.oftec.org
