Home heating oil thefts result in police warning

Police have issued security advice to homeowners in the Cookstown area of Co Tyrone following the theft of quantities of home heating oil from garden tanks in recent weeks.

Detectives investigating the instances have warned homeowners to be wary of unusual vans or lorries parked close to their property.

Other advice includes:

• Fitting a sturdy padlock to the filler cap;
• Ensuring gates and fences are in good repair;
• Plant defensive shrubs (thorny) around your oil tank, e.g. holly;
• Lighting, dusk to dawn lights activated by a photocell are good as they give light all night;
• If you are re-siting an oil tank, or building a new house, consider securing the tank in a locked structure.

Anyone with information in relation to the theft of heating oil, should contact Cookstown PSNI on 028 8676 6000, or Crimestoppers free on 0800 555 111.

(MB/SP)