Gangs are targeting Shropshire fuel suppliers, lorries and oil tanks in gardens in the latest crimewave as fuel prices continue to rocket.

Lorry drivers are discovering their fuel tanks empty after they stop for a break, fuel distributors have been forced to increase security and homeowners are even seeing their oil tanks emptied in their gardens.

Richard Bates, managing director of Oakley Fuel Oils, in Halesfield, Telford said the situation was “ridiculous”.

He said customers had told him they had domestic fuel stolen worth hundreds of pounds.

Mr Bates said: “There have been incidents on Halesfield Industrial Estate where lorries parked up for the night have had fuel stolen from the tanks.

“The ones that have had the most trouble are the ones with security on the top of their tanks as the thieves have then spiked it from the bottom instead.

“Drivers not only wake up with an empty fuel tank, but also a big hole in the tank and lose a day’s work.”

Mr Bates said his company had 24-hour security.

“Even domestic tanks are being hit,” he said. “A standard domestic tank usually holds 2,500 litres which it isn’t unusual for somebody to fill – which means £1,500 worth of oil at the bottom of the garden with no security.”

However, he said it was not easy to steal.

“Somebody needs to be pretty well geared up to get away with it,” said Mr Bates.

Telford police spokesman Constable Pete Simmonds recently launched a poster campaign in borough petrol stations to warn people they will be prosecuted if they make off without paying.

Mr Simmonds said: “We recently dealt with two people arrested for making off with £1,000 worth of fuel from petrol stations across Shropshire and the Staffordshire border in a month.

“People use false number plates or change them, or even just put carrier bags over them. It is a problem.

“People no longer tend to siphon fuel out of vehicles because they have anti-siphon devices fitted, so the offenders cut fuel lines under the car – but instead cut brake pipes. It is extremely dangerous.”

The British Oil Security Syndicate said the number of drivers filling up cars on garage forecourts and leaving without paying had boomed by 20 per cent.

The average price for a litre of unleaded petrol has reached 112.2p – up from 104.3p in January.

By Crime Correspondent Kirsty Marston