Combating diesel crime with Fuel Theft Solutions
Consultancy Fuel Theft Solutions has highlighted the increased risk and reported incidence of fuel theft from vehicles in the wake of this year’s soaring fuel prices.
Thieves will often damage vehicles’ fuel tanks during thefts which can leave them leaking fuel into the environment, the company adds, so businesses and their insurers can face potential clean-up costs in addition to the cost of repairs and replacing the fuel.
Fuel Theft Solutions has worked to protect fuel for a wide range of organisations, including the armed forces operating in Afghanistan. Its tools and deterrents for haulage applications include its latest innovation, the SafePark app – the brainchild of managing director, Chris Day.
It began with a Facebook page the company created to enable drivers to share information about vehicle crime.
“We quickly hit 17,800 members and saw a huge amount of information being shared including some really shocking revelations about how sophisticated and bold the criminals have become,” Chris continued.
“We thought it would be invaluable if we could use all the data we were collecting to create an app that could warn drivers about crime hotspots and advise where the safest places to park were. We are a trusted partner of NaVCIS (the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service), Europol and Interpol, and we are able to use data from all of these sources to update the app every 24 hours.”
The app works right across Europe and allows drivers to find the nearest secure parking using GIS technology. It enables them to check exactly what facilities are available at specific parking sites and has the latest details on availability and how to book in.
SafePark uses a traffic light system to flag crime hotspots, identifying areas that have been repeatedly targeted by fuel thieves on a map. Drivers can click on the map to find details of specific vehicle crimes in any area, and can report anything they witness to help protect fellow drivers.
There is a range of added functions such as a ‘Butty Bar’ feature which allows drivers to find handy food stops on their routes where they can phone in orders, minimising the time they have to leave their vehicles unattended.
The app has a free, two-week, trial period, after which a small per user per month charge is applicable, with discounts available for multiple users.
Another emerging threat to hauliers highlighted by the company is fuel theft from tanks on refrigeration units. Because they have had to switch to using white diesel instead of red, they have become a much more attractive target, the firm contends, especially as fuel is worth so much and a single tank can contain as much as 240 litres.
Chris Day told Transport Operator that Fuel Theft Solutions is seeing increasing demand for their DieselDye – a fuel additive which colours the fuel blue.
“It is hard to keep precise tabs on refrigeration unit fuel as they run on hours rather than miles,” he explained.
“DieselDye costs less than a penny to treat five litres and it acts as a really effective deterrent to anyone tempted to siphon it off for use in other vehicles. So, if you want to protect the fuel in your reefer units, blue is the new red!”
Fuel Theft Solutions offers free initial consultations to discuss the tools and strategies that can be used to fight vehicle crime.
