More offenders are leaving forecourt sites without making any attempt to settle their fuel bill as operators continue to face rising losses from unpaid fuel, shows a recent report, citing increase in Failure to Pay incidents.
The British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) Forecourt Crime Index rose to 226 in Q2, from 219 in Q1, extending the upward trend seen since Q3 2025.
The latest data shows a divergence between the two main categories of unpaid fuel incidents. While No Means of Payment (NMoP) reports remained unchanged compared with the previous quarter, Failure to Pay incidents increased by 3.5%, indicating that deliberate non-payment is driving much of the latest rise in forecourt crime.
The financial impact is also mounting, with the average value of an unpaid fuel incident rising sharply from £60.16 to £69.12 in the quarter. BOSS also warned of a growing number of cases involving drivers deliberately exploiting self-service checkout systems to avoid paying for fuel.
Claire Nichol, Executive Director at BOSS, said: “The continued rise in unpaid fuel incidents is a significant concern for forecourt retailers across the UK. While it is encouraging that No Means of Payment reports have remained stable, the increase in Failure to Pay incidents suggests that more offenders are leaving sites without making any attempt to settle their fuel bill.
“The sharp rise in the average incident value means that every offence is having a greater financial impact on businesses that are already operating in a highly competitive market. These losses simply can’t be absorbed by forecourt retailers and ultimately affect the wider forecourt sector.
“We’ve also noticed an increase in cases involving self-service checkouts, where drivers are deliberately avoiding adding their fuel purchase when prompted at the till. While retailers need to remain vigilant and ensure staff are aware of these tactics, some offenders are intentionally exploiting and testing the system, attempting to evade payment.”
“The latest Forecourt Crime Index reinforces the importance of maintaining robust forecourt crime prevention measures and effective reporting processes. BOSS will continue to work closely with retailers, police forces and industry partners to tackle fuel theft and support efforts to identify and deter offenders.”
The Forecourt Crime Index tracks trends in unpaid fuel incidents across the UK and provides an indicator of the scale and direction of forecourt crime. The latest provisional results suggest that although NMoP reports remain stable, rising Failure to Pay offences continue to push overall crime levels higher.