Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

Your industry news - first

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Oil tank locks

The value of having oil tank locks has been highlighted following a recent surge in the number of heating oil thefts taking place in the UK.

Villagers have been told to take precautions to secure their fuel as the rise in oil costs has led to an increase in robberies this winter, BBC News reports. It stated that as the cost of fuel has risen by 70 per cent over the last few months, this has encouraged more thieves to target rural residences.

Police have therefore advised the 1.5 million heating oil customers in the country to use deterrents to put people off stealing their fuel.

These include fitting tank locks, which enable fill points to be securely fastened, as well as alarms that sound if an intruder begins to take oil from the container.

Heating oil customers could also invest in a monitor which measures the level of oil in the tank and sends a signal to the house so that the homeowner is always aware of how much fuel they have left.

Chief inspector Jerry Reakes-Williams for the West Mercia Police said: "It is very sad that a small minority are committing these offences."

9th February 2011