Huron County OPP is warning residents about fuel thefts in the Gorrie and Fordwich areas.
About 7:15pm a male suspect used a hose to siphon fuel from a company vehicle on Old Mill St. in Fordwich. And on Tuesday, a vehicle owner from Louisa St. in Fordwich reported fuel stolen from a vehicle.
An attempt was made to siphon gasoline from a company vehicle parked on Victoria St. in Gorrie on January 16, but failed due to a locking gas cap installed by the owner.
The suspect was operating an Ford F-250 extended cab with a large dent on the passenger side.
CONSUMERS/HOMEOWNERS
- Consider installing a locking gas cap.
- Avoid parking in dark, isolated areas – especially for extended periods of time.
- Park your vehicle in a locked garage. If you don’t have a garage, park next to the house in a well-lit area.
- If you have to park on the street or in a parking lot. Park your vehicle so the fuel door is plainly visible.
- If you have bulk fuels on your property, lock the tank and the dispenser to prevent unauthorized access. Ensure the power supply to the pump is turned off.
- Call the police if you see suspicious activity around fuel tanks or parked vehicles. Try to record suspect / suspect vehicle descriptions.
- A barking dog can act as a great tool to deter criminal activity on your property.
- Be suspicious of any strangers that enter onto your property, keep in mind they may be scoping out your property.
- Consider prepayment or pay at pump.
- Install and maintain a high quality video surveillance system.
- Be alert and vigilant. Consider greeting customers over an intercom system.
- Record licence plate numbers before activating fuel pump.
- Locate the cash drawer so the clerk has an unobstructed view of the fuel pumps.
- Consider a reward system for customers that provide information that leads to identifying a gas thief.
- If you have a gas theft, record the date, time, suspect description, vehicle description and licence plate number.
Huron County OPP is requesting anyone with information about these recent fuel thefts or any others to call police at 1-888-310-1122.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
