Stolen Home Heating Oil Find Heralds A Crime On The Up

Police officers discovered £20,000 worth of stolen home heating oil at a home in Kilkeel, leading to fears of an "emerging crime type", the County Down Outlook has reported.

According to the newspaper, officers from the South Down Neighbourhood Policing team found drums containing about 14,000 litres of oil, which may have been the spoils of a criminal gang.

Mournes councillor Henry Reilly said this had uncovered "one of the biggest oil thefts in the area" but it was unclear whether the oil was from local thefts.

He said homeowners should be extra vigilant, as he knew from his own experience that thefts from an oil tank could be "an expensive inconvenience".

He said: "There are very few insurance companies who cover this, so I would very much condemn what has happened."

Councillor Reilly also encouraged people living in the area to keep an eye out for suspicious vehicles, adding: "Whoever did this would have had to use a large vehicle and it may have been an organised gang in operation."

Police Inspector Andy McGowan said oil and diesel theft was rare but, due to its high value, on the up.

The PSNI can issue crime prevention advice to companies or people with large oil tanks, and people should consider locks and security measures for the filler cap.

Inspector McGowan concluded: "It is evident that this is an emerging crime type for Northern Ireland and members of the public need to be vigilant."

(NE)