Forecourt fuel crime in UK ‘continues to grow’

Forecourt fuel crime is continuing to grow, stated a recently-released report amid a challenging financial environment with gas and electricity prices pushing inflation to the highest level in a decade.

According to the latest figures, the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) Forecourt Crime Index increased by 9 per cent in the third quarter. It covers reports of No Means of Payment (NMoP) and drive-off incidents.

The biggest challenge facing forecourt retailers is drivers’ claims of NMoP – that accounts for more than two-thirds of all forecourt fuel crime by value, the analysis suggests.

It is estimated that fuel crime can cost an average forecourt outlet more than £10,000 in lost revenue every year.

The 9 per cent quarterly increase, however, was lower than the 20 per cent growth reported during the second quarter this year, primarily because ‘drive-off’ incident reports grew at a lower rate during the quarter. 

During the third quarter, NMoP incident reports increased by 11.5 per cent (12.9 per cent in  Q2 2021) and Drive-Off incident growth fell to 7.5 per cent (37.6 per cent in Q2 2021), as per the report.

Kevin Eastwood, BOSS executive director, said: “We’re getting to a stage where forecourt fuel crime costs forecourts nearly £100 million every year and it’s of great concern that incidents of this type of crime continue to grow. While the pace of the increase has slowed it is still putting added financial pressure on forecourt operators.

“Motorists claiming to have No Means of Payment is the biggest challenge facing forecourt operators and accounts for more than two thirds of all forecourt fuel crime by value. Fuel crime can cost an average forecourt outlet more than £10,000 in lost revenue every year.

“In the majority of cases motorists make a genuine mistake when they have no means to pay for fuel. We recommend that forecourt staff should follow well documented procedures, such as Payment Watch, so that motorists can return to pay either in person, via phone or online,” Eastwood said.