100 gallons of diesel stolen from Dunbeath business
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Red diesel is believed to be among the fuel stolen in a spate of thefts in the Dunbeath area.
A LOCAL businessman has had to spend £2000 on improved security after 100 gallons of diesel were stolen from vehicle recovery trucks at his garage in Dunbeath.
The thefts took place over an eight-week period and are among a number which have happened in the area. Red and road diesel and heating oil are also understood to have been targeted by thieves.
John Elder, who with his brother, Graham, runs the motor engineer business, yesterday said he is expanding his CCTV coverage of the premises at a cost of £1500. Alarm systems, costing around £500, are also being put in place in a bid to deter any further thefts.
He and Graham decided to take the additional security measures after 100 gallons of diesel were taken from three trucks over two months.
“The first incident happened about eight weeks ago. We were called out to a job. We started the truck up and the warning lights came on. It was clear something was wrong. We looked in the tank and there was nothing there. We went round the other trucks and they were the same. We managed to get some diesel from another vehicle and got to the job but it caused us some difficulties,” he told the John O’Groat Journal.
“Since then there have been two more incidents – one at the beginning of May and the other one last Saturday. Diesel was taken from the trucks which are kept about 200 feet from the main part of the garage.”
Mr Elder, whose late father, John, started the business in 1973, pointed out the value of the stolen fuel would be around £700.
He added: “We lost some fuel between eight and 10 years ago but that was an isolated incident. Now diesel has been stolen three times in eight weeks.
“It is very disappointing that the world is going the way it is. We have been here all this time without any real problems and then this happens. I can’t believe it.”
Mr Elder said locking caps – installed at a cost of £25 each – had been broken off by the thieves to get at the diesel. “These trucks are needed to attend accidents and other emergencies and it is terrible to find no diesel in them when you go to use them. We want to stop this and decided to expand the coverage of CCTV cameras into other parts of the premises. The main area has been covered for many years,” said the businessman.
“The thefts were reported to the police and we hope something will happen but we just don’t know if anything will.”
Mr Elder said he heard heating oil has also been stolen in the Dunbeath area.
The Groat believes red and road diesel has been targeted by thieves as well. It is understood the diesel thefts have been taking place recently but heating oil has been going missing for a much longer period.
One member of the public, who wished to remain anonymous, stressed one person went to “a huge expense” to protect their oil and claimed people in the village, as well as in rural locations, are equally at risk.
Wick-based police sergeant Donald MacDonald said enquiries into the thefts of fuel from the recovery vehicles in Dunbeath are ongoing and he urged the public to help.
“If people see anyone acting in a suspicious manner near lorries or premises, particularly in the dead of night, let us know,” he said.
Sgt MacDonald stressed that as recovery vehicles attend accidents and other incidents the theft of their diesel could have wider implications. “There could be bigger issues than just stealing the fuel,” he stated.
On the wider thefts, the sergeant said: “There is a possibility they are linked but we don’t know if that is the case.”
Neil Buchanan, the chairman of Dunbeath and Berriedale Community Council, is aware of the problem.
“We are unhappy this is happening and would like it to be solved and stopped. Rural areas are struggling anyway. Thefts like this are not helpful,” he said.
