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SOLIHULL Police have busted a fuel theft syndicate thought to have stolen tens of thousands of pounds worth of petrol and diesel from garage forecourts. One vehicle – a stolen Mercedes – is believed to have been used around 30 times since April alone, often being driven off by offenders after clocking-up hundreds of pounds at the pump in a single visit. It was found with 12 large fuel tanks stashed in the boot and rear seat foot-wells.

A total of nine men – from Moseley, Spark Hill, Small Heath and Alum Rock – were arrested during last week’s five-day operation at three petrol stations in Shirley: the BP, Shell and Sainsbury’s in Stratford Road. Collectively they’re known by police as the ‘Shirley Triangle’ due to the huge amount of fuel that’s disappeared from the sites.

Las tmonth Solihull Police recorded 90 offences of bilking (making off without paying) and that’s up more than 50 per cent on the same month in 2009. Inspector Farooq Sheikh, who led the Operation, said he believed most offences were carried out by a small number of organised syndicates. He added: “Stealing fuel can be big business for these offenders; they work in small groups, between them swapping stolen and cloned number plates which they use to carry out the thefts.These forecourts were being regularly targeted by thieves so we conducted a covert operation to try and identify and apprehend offenders. It’s been a huge success and we believe we’ve caught some of region’s most prolific fuel thieves.”

Three men – two aged 26 and one 25-year-old – were arrested on suspicion of the Mercedes bilkings and bailed pending further enquiries. Among their bail conditions include not entering the borough of Solihull and not to go onto any petrol station forecourt in the West Midlands.

Insp Sheikh, said: “Given the high petrol prices it’s almost impossible to eradicate bilkings completely; there will always be opportunists who drive off without paying. However,this operation underlines our commitment to stamp out organised, large-scalefuel theft. Anyone tempted to commit a bilking offence should be mindful that,in addition to the network of CCTV cameras covering station forecourts, we may well be watching over their shoulder.” 

Another suspected bilker was arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply, whilst another man was arrested for shoplifting.