Frustrated: Pakenham Ampol operator Sam Christofides.By Callan Date
PETROL driveoffs are on the rise and raising hackles again due to the high price of fuel.
Local service stations are becoming increasingly frustrated at the number of driveoff incidents taking place and are stepping up security in an attempt to capture the culprits.
The majority of driveoffs are occurring after dark and are a result of the price of petrol being at least $1.30 a litre.
The manager of Ampol service station on Pakenham’s eastern outskirts, Sam Christofides, said driveoffs caused great inconvenience to his business.
“We had three driveoffs just last week and they are happening on a constant basis,” Mr Christofides said.
Service station owners are doing all they can to stop the thefts and are working with police to ensure all incidents are investigated.
“We have several security cameras installed and when we capture the driveoff on tape we hand the footage over to police and they follow it up,” Mr Christofides said.
Police say the theft of petrol is no different to shoplifting and is treated with equal importance.
Sergeant Chris Marlow said a pattern was occurring where thieves were targeting the busier service stations along the Princes Highway in a bid to avoid detection.
“They are targeting the ones with a higher traffic flow and hoping that the attendant doesn’t notice that they haven’t paid for their fuel,” Sgt Marlow said.
A program developed to ensure drivers prepay for their fuel after 6pm has had some success, but not all service stations have been able to implement it.
Police are also concerned with the rise of number plate thefts in the local area.
The stolen plates are used by people who are driving off without paying for petrol.
“We are getting an increase in the amount of number plates being stolen and this seems to be in direct correlation with the high fuel prices that we are currently seeing,” Sgt Marlow said.
He said number plates were being stolen from cars parked in areas including shopping centre car parks, residential driveways and on the street.
