It comes as no surprise to The Hub that Hounslow has been named the ‘worst London borough for fuel thefts’ by the BBC, with a total of 175 reported thefts between 2009 and 2012.
The figures, which were obtained from the Metropolitan Police by the BBC via a Freedom of Information request, suggested that the majority of thieves targeted commercial vehicles over cars. With the high concentration of commercial vehicle operating centres in the area surrounding Heathrow Airport, The Hub can see why the borough has been targeted by fuel thieves and operators in the area should be aware.
With rising fuel costs encouraging criminals to target the high fuel capacity of LGVs, operators up and down the country, not just in London, should ensure their sites are well secured to deter criminals.
The Metropolitan Police has recommended that operators take precautions including installing CCTV and ensuring that depots are well lit for firms operating in the top London boroughs for fuel theft- Hounslow, Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark and Merton.