NSW: New measures to crack down on petrol theft

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2006
NSW: New measures to crack down on petrol theft

SYDNEY, Aug 10 AAP - The NSW government has announced new measures to crack down on
an increase in petrol and number plate thefts linked to rising fuel prices.

Motorists will be encouraged to use one way screws to make number plates more difficult
to steal while service stations in south-western Sydney will take part in a voluntary
trial requiring customers to pay for petrol before they fill up their cars.

Police and the Service Station Association will carry out risk assessments at service
stations and a government and industry task force on petrol theft will be established.

The government will also consider amending laws relating to petrol theft to make it
easier for offenders to be prosecuted.

There were 10,093 reported petrol thefts in NSW in 2005-06 and NSW Police Minister
Carl Scully said the problem was becoming increasingly worse.

"As prices of petrol have risen, so has the theft of petrol, and the theft of numbers
plates, and we intend to do something about it," he told reporters.

Mr Scully said number plates were often stolen by petrol thieves to make it difficult
for their cars to be identified.

Service Station Association chief executive Ron Bowden said the theft of fuel was wiping
out the already thin profit margins of some operators.

Mr Bowden said stations taking part in the pre-pay trial would try and assure customers
were not inconvenienced.

"Done the right way we don't expect this will be a problem," he told reporters.

AAP pj/klw/ks/nf

KEYWORD: PETROL NSW

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