Petrol thieves using false number plates

Petrol thieves involved in a spate of fuel thefts in the Black Country are using stolen number plates to avoid being caught, police revealed today.

The announcement follows a spate of thefts where people have driven off from petrol stations without paying - bilking - in the past few weeks.

The rise in fuel prices has been blamed for the increase in thefts. Pc John Redfern from Pedmore and Stourbridge East neighbourhood team said there had been 40 bilkings in Dudley this month, six within his area.

"We are aware that some offenders try to evade detection by using stolen or false number plates when committing this kind of offence," he said.

"However, the majority of forecourts now have advanced CCTV which is proving very useful in helping to trace those motorists who flout the law."

He added: "While drivers may see it as a faceless crime, it is something which causes significant problems for petrol stations.

"It is a form of theft, and is completely unacceptable."

Police today released two CCTV images of cars wanted in connection with such thefts.

In one incident, a Subaru Impreza filled up £35 worth of petrol at the Tesco Express in Hagley Road, Oldswinford, at around 6.50pm on July 14 before driving off without paying.

The number plate, registration E19 JJG, had been stolen from a Hyundai in Pebble Close, Stourbridge, just a couple of hours earlier.

A similar theft took place just two days later at the Murco garage in Gauden Road, Wollescote.

A man was caught on camera filling up a VW Golf, sporting number plates which had been stolen from a Toyota in Pedmore Road, Lye, earlier that evening.

The Express & Star reported earlier this year that the number of petrol thefts had rocketed across the West Midlands.

Figures leapt by 50 per cent from 1,215 reported thefts in the first four months of 2009 to 1,804 in the same period this year.

Witnesses are asked to call PC John Redfern at Stourbridge Police Station on 0345 113 5000.