Fuel thefts have surged by 62 per cent over the past year, a direct consequence of escalating pump prices driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
New figures from fuel theft recovery firm Pay My Fuel, seen by the BBC, reveal a significant rise in "drive-offs" – instances where motorists refuel and leave without paying. The average weekly rate of such incidents per forecourt jumped from 2.1 in March 2025 to 3.4 in the same month this year. The company, which services 1,400 forecourts, also noted a 46 per cent increase in the average value of fuel stolen per incident during this period.
