Gardaí have reminded homeowners to secure their home heating oil tanks after a spate of thefts in recent weeks.
Gardaí advised that people "keep an eye on heating oil deliveries and any fuel storage around homes or farms" following a number of incident in Laois and Offaly this week.
They warned homeowners to be vigilant and to install extra secure around their home or garden if they feel vulnerable to thefts.
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In advice on improving security of domestic heating oil tanks include, gardaí noted the important of the location of the tank.
They said: "The position of the tank can have a significant effect on how a thief views how hard a target is. Place the tank as close to the house as regulations allow and in view of one or more windows. This may make the thief consider the chance of being seen too high to risk. Also, ensure the tank is not visible from the road to passing traffic."
In a statement, they also advised people to invest in security lights, defensive planting to hide the tank and lighting solutions.
"Security lights can have a very positive effect and make property a much harder target for the thief," they said.
"Defensive planting is nature's way of helping to reduce crime. Thieves will not wish to force their way through or over a prickly hedge. Also planting such as trees or hedging can be used to make the oil tank less visible from the road to passing traffic.
"A good quality closed shackle padlock fitted to the tank opening should be your starting point."
They also advised on more permanent ways of securing your oil tank, including with a "wooden or metal fence, trellis or wall," adding that they can give "significant protection to the tank and is probably the strongest method of target hardening."
"A metal or grill cage with a lockable access point across the top of this wall or fence can further improve security."
People were also told to use remote electronic oil level gauges which will "set off an audible alarm when the oil level drops dramatically, as would happen if there were a leak or theft, and alerts the receiver unit. There are units on the market today that will even send a text alert to your mobile phone."
CCTV is also an option for some property owners: "Installing CCTV may sound extreme. However, small infra-red cameras are fairly cheap these days. A covert camera to record the number plates of any cars or vans entering your driveway could help. It may not stop thieves but could help trace them later. Placing a highly visible camera on your property may act as a deterrent to thieves, especially in areas where natural surveillance is scarce.
"A lot of farmers in particular are going for new security products on the market which monitors your yard by wireless beams when you are not there. When activated if somebody enters your yard, you are notified on your phone by a monitoring station," gardaí concluded.
They have a handy checklist of tips to prevent oil thefts.
TOP TIPS FROM GARDAÍ TO PREVENT OIL THEFT
- check oil levels frequently
- try to arrange smaller but more frequent oil deliveries;
- install automatic movement sensor security lighting around the tank
- plant shrubs or erect fencing to screen tanks from view from the road
- install and use lockable access gates, and erect lockable fencing around your tank, including over the top
- consider fitting an alarm system which warns if the oil level drops suddenly
- be vigilant following a delivery
- be aware thieves may return to steal replacement oil following an initial theft
- note suspicious vehicles’ registration numbers and report them to Garda.
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