PETROL FORECOURT CRIME - MAKING SURE CRIME DOESN'T PAY

Petrol station crime in the UK costs in excess of £50 million a year and could lead to an increase in the cost of fuel to motorists.

The crime wave sweeping the country's forecourts includes credit card fraud, drive-offs (people driving away without paying for fuel), criminal damage, robberies, assaults and shoplifting.

Petrol stations have now replaced corner shops as a major community resource in many areas of the UK, combining the services of the corner shop, bank, takeaway cafe and car wash facility. But their popularity has also led to increased levels of crime, as they have become a favourite target for crooks.

A survey recently revealed that petrol stations are the third highest in the league table for robberies in the UK's retail trade, with the oil industry losing over £50 million a year as a result. It's a trend which is obviously costing the oil industry a large amount of money, but, ultimately, those costs have to be passed on to someone. That someone will undoubtedly be the motorist filling up with fuel. There are, however, measures that the ordinary driver can take to help minimize opportunities for the criminal.

* Always lock the car when you leave it at the pump to pay for fuel - many vehicles have been driven off as the unsuspecting owner browses the confectionery.

* Do not leave young children in an unattended vehicle while you are in the shop. An horrific case in Scotland recently highlighted the dangers. A sleeping child who remained in ...