Sask. saw 70% jump in fuel theft last year, according to RCMP

A motorist dispenses gasoline from a pump at a Shell station, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Commerce City, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Theft of diesel and gas were up considerably across the province in 2022 according to the Saskatchewan RCMP.

In total, police received 818 reports of fuel theft from across the province, marking a 70 per cent increase from 2021, RCMP said in a news release.

The total consisted of 510 reports of someone fueling up at a service station and leaving without paying, 177 reports of theft from large fuel tanks or heavy machinery and 106 reports of theft from bulk fuel tanks at businesses, farms and rural municipalities.

The remaining 85 reports included stolen jerry cans and similar containers, RCMP said.

The detachments receiving the most reports of fuel theft were:

• Battlefords (61)
• Saskatoon (58)
• Shellbrook (46)
• Swift Current (39)

Police explained that reports of fuel theft have continued into 2023 with two recent incidents involving tank drilling reported to the RCMP’s Punnichy detachment on Feb. 27.

Saskatchewan RCMP offered some tips to help prevent fuel theft. They include:

• Locking privately-owned fuel tanks and ensuring the area they are located in is well-lit.
• Setting up video or photo surveillance in areas where a privately-owned fuel tank is located.
• If possible, parking vehicles in a locked garage or outbuilding or parking in a well-lit, frequently-travelled location.
• Parking vehicles with the fuel door facing a frequently-travelled road.
• If possible, avoid parking in one area, or leaving a vehicle unattended, for an extended period of time.
• If a vehicle has an alarm, activate it when leaving it unattended.
• Reporting suspicious activity to police, even if it does not involve your own vehicle.