Night raiders steal 800 litres of fuel from east Hull bus depot
THIEVES have stolen 800 litres of fuel in a midnight raid on a Hull coach firm.
A gang broke into Abbey Travel's depot in Foster Street, east Hull – the third time the site has been targeted this year.
Although the criminals were captured on CCTV, police told owner Gary Pinkney his images were too blurred to use.
Mr Pinkney said: "It's an absolute nightmare.
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"You just wonder if it's worth it? It's damaging for the drivers and everybody else."
The thieves spent three hours in the Abbey Travel yard, siphoning fuel in the dead of night.
Mr Pinkney said: "The police can't be in our yard all night, we appreciate that, but the thieves were in there for three hours without being seen."
Since January, the business has suffered from repeated thefts.
Mr Pinkney said: "There was a theft about ten weeks ago – we had all our gas bottles taken.
"And before that, we had fuel taken in March.
"These past two years, it's just got worse, with the price of fuel going up. It's like gold dust for people."
Detective Constable Justin Marrow, of Hull's serious acquisitive crime unit, investigated the theft – but the case was closed due to a lack of evidence.
He said: "There was insufficient evidence to prosecute anybody.
"Abbey did have images. We sent a team down to retrieve them but, unfortunately, they were of insufficient quality."
He said fuel thefts of this size were rare in Hull.
Mr Marrow said: "It's a sporadic crime across our force area. But we have no experience of that type of volume.
"It's difficult to say if it was a professional job – it was a large amount, so they must have been organised in some respects."
The fuel was stolen from vehicles parked in a secure area.
Mr Marrow said firms should bring in extra security to avoid being targeted, if they could afford to.
He said business owners should control access to their depots and use security patrols if possible.
Inspector Lee Edwards is in charge of riverside neighbourhood policing team, which covers Foster Street.
He said: "Sporadically, we're affected by fuel theft.
"I would say there are crime types that cause us more problems – for instance, metal theft.
"Geographically, you might get a run of similar offences and then we will direct patrols to the area, both to deter offenders and to detect them."
The theft took place between 11.15pm on Saturday, June 16, and 2.20am on Sunday, June 17.
Comments
by piddsta
Friday, June 29 2012, 10:29AM
“An old band of mine used to rehearse on secure industrial premises on an industrial estate. One day travelling to rehearsal we noticed a caravan site had appeared not far from where we were. During the rehearsal the door creaked open and 2 little kids no more than 7 or 8 years old poked their heads in and then ran away. We left our equipment locked in the room.
Can anyone guess what happened next?”
by opinionhated
Thursday, June 28 2012, 1:40PM
“Adolf had the right idea on Pogs. Then they wouldn't need their Transits.”
by Ma_by
Thursday, June 28 2012, 12:25PM
“@ Foxache "... because the police can't do their job."
They are, they are catching internet sex offenders are weeks of investigations in chat-rooms; catching people who punch and beat up minors, including yet more sex offences some from 30 years ago, and burglars who think it's OK as long as they say sorry. These all have to have cases built to secure convictions even if it's a guilty plea, hundreds of hours work in each case. These are all other stories in the HDM within a couple of days.
The Police can not be everywhere, even more-so now they have been cut by 20%, particularly with these crimes which are opportunist in nature. I really don't think you realise just how few police officers there are out their!”
by GlennQuagmire
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 2:05PM
“Come on haha, 3 times and you still have blurry CCTV? Your insurers must love you.
Get it bloody secured!”
by dj1210
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 9:27AM
“Mr pinkney 3 times in a year,come on sort your security out!!!”
by mikey1969
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 9:13AM
“If a guy from Bransholme had done it I think it might of been 800 litres of white lightning”
by grizbo
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 9:00AM
“get a guard dogs when yard is locked up and have signs around to warn people about the dogs, the company would be coved if somebody nicks breaks in ,no body will want to get hurt whilst nicking fuel , also get anti syphon fuel necks fitted to their buses and coaches .”
by thesnooper
Tuesday, June 26 2012, 11:20PM
“this story is the real life version of the anti crime ad's that were on tv
yes the cameras really are as bad as they look”
by thesnooper
Tuesday, June 26 2012, 11:17PM
“well its simple isnt it dont leave the buses full of fuel fill them up with the amount needed as and when”
by GideonStrap
Tuesday, June 26 2012, 3:36PM
“It doesn't take Juliet Bravo to work out who's responsible for this! I suggest they have a scoot over to the "travellers" encampment across the river.”