With high energy costs and all us feeling the pinch due to the cost of living crisis, none of us wants to fall victim to heating oil thieves. Your oil may be all the more attractive to thieves in these current times - rising prices mean that heating oil is now a valuable commodity.
Due to the fact that domestic heating oil users are usually off-grid, they are often located in remote, rural locations. It does pay to always be vigilant and on your guard as, whilst the chance of fuel theft is relatively low, when it does happen it can be very costly, not to mention the inconvenience and upset such theft can cause.
A few simple precautions can ensure that your heating oil tank isn’t an easy target and reduce the chance of having your fuel stolen. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at what to do to reduce your risk of theft, from where to locate your tank to make it difficult for opportunist thieves to strike, to what else you can do to ensure you keep your domestic heating oil safe from potential theft.
Think tank location
Considering where to locate your central heating oil tank is an important decision. It’s a must that your heating oil tank is in a safe location, and complies with OFTEC regulations, but there are also other considerations such as aesthetics, security, and convenience – and of course there’s a balance to achieve.
Locating your heating oil tank away from prying eyes and so it’s not visible from the road, perhaps behind your garage or garden shed, will make it significantly harder for thieves to spot in the first place, and keeping access gates locked, and walls and fencing in good repair will also make it more difficult for thieves to steal your home heating oil. However, if the tank is out of site it could actually be counter-productive, giving thieves an advantage as they would stand less chance of being noticed if nobody can see them, so situating the tank somewhere that is visible from the inside of your home can also prove to be a deterrent, due to the potential of thieves being spotted.
In addition, you could consider hiding your oil central heating tank with a trellis or fence, and if you cover the tank with a roof, it will prevent the tank being spotted on satellite images such as Google Maps – used by thieves to identify homes with heating oil tanks and pick their potential targets. As long as you remember to ensure compliance with OFTEC’s fire-safety recommendations, and ensure that you leave sufficient room for servicing and maintenance, as well as deliveries.
Adding a layer of gravel around your tank is a quick and easy deterrent, as anyone that walks on the gravel will make a noise and draw attention to themselves. And obstacles such as plant pots placed in the path of any intruders would mean they’d have to waste time and potentially create noise by moving them.
And then there’s the potential of an underground tank - as an underground tank is out of sight, the risk of fuel theft is greatly reduced.
If you’re thinking about moving your tank, or even purchasing a new one, we would always recommend you get in touch with an OFTEC registered oil heating engineer who will be able to offer you expert advice.
Install security lighting
Domestic heating oil thefts are more likely to happen in winter months, when nights close in early and tanks are at their fullest. Investing in dust-till-dawn security lights that can be fitted in the area surrounding your tank or security lights which are triggered by motion and will automatically light up your oil tank, startling any trespassers and drawing attention to them, alerting you to their presence, can be a good deterrent.
Lock your tank
Closed shackle padlocks are difficult to cut with bolt croppers due to the fact they have very little of the metal hoop (shackle) exposed and bolt croppers can’t get a good grip. Investing in and fitting this type of good quality padlock that requires more effort than a cheap padlock could in itself frustrate a thief and persuade them to give up and move on.
Another option is to invest in a locking fuel cap and anti-syphoning device.
Plant prickly bushes
Again, whilst it’s important to leave sufficient room for maintenance and fuel deliveries, planting prickly hedges and bushes can be a deterrent – thieves will not want to force their way through or over a prickly hedge. They’ll also help to hide your heating oil tank from view - and there’s the risk that fibres could be left behind that could help identify any offenders. Good examples of defensive plants are hawthorn, climbing roses, holly, or even gooseberry plants.
Install CCTV
Whilst a great way to monitor your tank, fitting CCTV can be expensive. However, it can deter thieves and also provide evidence if you ever need it for insurance claims or police reports.
Consider a smart monitor
Our Oilfox smart monitor is an easy and reliable way to keep an eye on your fuel 24/7. It sends alerts to an app on your phone, and in addition will send an alert if your fuel level drops suddenly if your oil’s being stolen, or your oil tank has a leak. Whilst the alarm won’t actually prevent an oil theft before it happens, putting signs up to indicate that your tank is alarmed may deter thieves.
Check your home insurance policy
We would always recommend that you check your household insurance policy to make sure it covers you if the unthinkable happens.
Make sure that you’re covered for all your out-of-pocket expenses, not just for the stolen heating oil itself. Even with good security measures your tank or pipes could be damaged by thieves who may drill into your tank, plus there’s also the risk of spilt fuel which could result in costly clean-ups.
Whilst it’s not possible to completely prevent fuel theft, we hope that these tips will help you take steps to protect your heating oil tank and make things as difficult as possible for opportunistic thieves. If you belong to a neighbourhood watch scheme, it would be a good idea to discuss the issue of oil theft with your group co-ordinator so everyone in the scheme can be vigilant, and finally, if you do notice any suspicious behaviour around your property, we would strongly advise you to let the police know about your concerns.