Petrol thefts surge as Iran war pushes up fuel costs

Fuel theft incidents have climbed by 62% year-on-year, according to updated statistics from Pay My Fuel, a company specializing in recovering stolen funds. One forecourt operator reported weekly losses of £2,000 across his five sites, with staff facing heightened abuse linked to soaring fuel prices. This rise coincides with the ongoing US-Israel conflict in Iran, which has driven up the cost of filling a typical family car with petrol by £14 and diesel by £27.

Forecourt owner details rising thefts

Josh, a petrol retailer operating five garages in southern England, described a sharp increase in drive-offs. Previously, his sites saw one or two incidents weekly, but now he records about five per garage. He shared CCTV footage illustrating the thefts, which occur at all hours and vary in value. In one clip, a motorbike rider took £14.97 worth of fuel without payment. Another showed a white van driver loading £151.53 before fleeing during morning rush hour. A third instance involved a white Porsche SUV with £75.15 in fuel stolen mid-afternoon.

“There’s a growing sense that theft is acceptable now,” Josh said, opting to withhold his surname due to the abuse directed at forecourt staff. “While some may act out of necessity, the majority are premeditated.”

Industry data highlights significant trend

Pay My Fuel’s analysis reveals the average weekly drive-off per forecourt has risen from 2.1 in March 2025 to 3.4 this year—a 62% increase. The firm noted a 46% jump in the average value of each theft, from £56 to £67. “The damage is far greater,” said director Ian Wolfenden. “Retailers are losing nearly £70 every two days, which is a major concern.”

Wolfenden emphasized that less affluent regions are disproportionately affected, citing areas like east and southeast London, Glasgow, and Manchester as hotspots for organized fuel theft. Meanwhile, the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) attributed the surge to price hikes, with some thefts involving people claiming to have forgotten their wallets.

“Some of the theft is clearly organized crime,” said PRA executive director Gordon Balmer. “Others, however, may stem from financial strain, though the government’s focus on price gouging hasn’t helped.”

Authorities ramp up response

Superintendent Lisa Maslen of the National Business Crime Centre stated that fuel theft “exerts a major toll on retailers and the police.” She noted that law enforcement is adopting a proactive stance, working with fuel stations and recovery agencies to track repeat offenders. “Collaboration is key to disrupting these patterns,” she added.

A government spokesperson condemned fuel thieves, asserting they “must be held accountable” and encouraging the public to report crimes. Despite a slight price drop over the weekend, the RAC reported petrol remains 19.2% pricier than pre-war levels, with diesel 34.5% higher. Balmer argued these hikes have strained businesses reliant on daily fuel purchases, exacerbating staff mistreatment.