Fuel thieves caught after local sleuths follow them to pub and beach

After being hit by three fuel thefts in six weeks, local people helped a garage owner track down thieves after she put an appeal on Facebook.

The offending couple were staying in the coastal town of Porthmadog, Gwynedd, and they were spotted in a pub, before residents were able to follow their van to a beach the next day, and keep an eye on them until police arrived.

Judith Troughton, 68, who runs the Prysor Service Station near Trawsfynydd said because of rising fuel prices caused by the Ukraine and Iran wars, it is becoming increasingly difficult to make a living.

North Wales Police described "no-pay incidents" as having a big impact, and the force has put in measures, such as signs on forecourts, and training for staff to recognise criminal behaviour.

Fuel thefts have surged by 62% across the UK compared to a year ago, according to BBC figures - with one forecourt owner saying drive-offs are costing him £2,000 a week across his five sites.

"They put fuel in one of them and then they both drove away," Judith said of the couple, who arrived at her forecourt in two vans.

In total, they took £130 worth of fuel, after the woman got out of the one van to fill up the other.

The theft happened in April, and after Judith put an appeal on Facebook with images of the vehicles, locals spotted them outside a pub.

But the couple had left by the time police arrived.

However, eagle-eyed locals weren't going to be deterred, and spotted them again the next day on a nearby beach.

Judith explained how they kept an eye on them until the police arrived, and after officers spoke to them, the couple admitted their guilt and later paid up.

"The power of Facebook is wonderful," Judith added.

"We've got quite a supportive local community around here and, as soon as the word gets out, people are helpful."

But it's not the only time her business, which she has run for 10 years, has been targeted.

A second case involved a woman in her pyjamas linked to multiple thefts, who is now under investigation.

The third came last week, with the man responsible caught by traffic police after breaking down.

He later visited the garage to settle up, telling Judith he was "desperate" and had borrowed money to belatedly pay her.

"He was absolutely mortified," she added.

This brought home to Judith the reason some struggling people resort to thefts, and said her business is trying to do what it can to help.

But she said repeated thefts are having a huge impact, adding: "Think of the small businesses because it'll be us that are going to go under if anybody does.

"I'd just remind them that it's tough for everybody, not just them. If everybody did that, then we'd soon go broke."

Motorists in the UK have faced higher fuel costs since the US-Israel war with Iran began.

Prices surged when the conflict began on 28 February, with the production and transportation of oil across the Middle East slowing or stopping entirely due to missile strikes and drone attacks.

Motoring group RAC has said prices at the pump could keep rising if there is no resolution to the conflict.

The cost of filling a typical family car with petrol went up by around £14, while a tank of diesel became £27 more expensive.

These increases are alongside other household pressures for families, as inflation also pushes things such as mortgages, rent and food prices.

The Rhydymwyn Service Station in Mold, Flintshire was also targeted by fuel thieves about six weeks ago.

Owner Gemma Newell described how a passenger filled up with around £50 worth of fuel at a pump furthest from staff, concealed their face with a hood, before driving off in a car fitted with fake number plates.

Gemma said staff noticed the theft almost immediately, but CCTV footage could not identify the vehicle because the registration plates had been tampered with.

She described it as "devastating", saying it felt like "hard-earned cash" being taken directly from the business.

The 41-year-old, who has owned the garage since 2013, said soaring fuel prices had also made recent weeks "really, really challenging", adding: "It's been a turbulent sort of eight weeks.

"Our worst week saw diesel prices shift by about 18p a litre.

"Once you add VAT and mark-up on top, I can't suddenly put 25p on the totem pole [displaying prices] from one morning to the next evening."

Gemma said many customers wrongly assume garages are profiteering.

However, she described margins being "absolute peanuts" after card charges, staffing costs and business rates are paid.

"When someone comes in and spends £70 on fuel, people think we're making £70, but after all the costs... it's nothing," she said.

"It's not the high volume of money that people think you're making on it.

"So I think that's the difficulty."

Fuel theft continues to "place a significant and unacceptable strain on fuel retailers, impacting businesses financially and placing additional demand on policing resources", according to Supt Lisa Maslen.

The head of the National Business Crime Centre explained how police forces take a proactive approach to tackling the issue, working to identify offenders, disrupt repeat behaviour, and ensure those responsible are held to account.

To do so, forces are boosting collaboration with fuel retailers and cost recovery agencies.

"Fuel theft undermines businesses and their workers," said a UK government spokesperson.

"These thieves must face the full force of the law."