Crime cost fuel retailers £25.7 Million in 2012

Thanks to Thames Valley Police for bringing this item to our attention

Crime on Britain’s forecourts cost fuel retailers £25.7 million in 2012, up from £22.2 million in 2010, according to figures revealed in the annual forecourt crime survey carried out by BOSS, the British Oil Security Syndicate.

The main source of the estimated total loss is £20.4 million resulting from ‘drive-off’ incidents – up 31% compared to £15.5 million in 2010 – with a further £4.2 million lost from motorists claiming to have ‘no means of payment’ (NMoP) who then fail to return to clear their debt.

The combined drive-off and NMoP loss for the average UK service station in 2012 was £2,860, up 28% compared with 2010, partly as a consequence of fuel prices which rose 17.4% in the same period.

BOSS is addressing these problems on several fronts. At a local level, where its established Forecourt Watch schemes are operating successfully, losses have been shown to fall by up to 55%. These schemes are initiated by BOSS on behalf of its retail members and help to forge productive working relationships between retailers and local police to ensure swift and efficient detection of forecourt crime.

Read the rest at the BOSS website

British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS): http://www.bossuk.org/