Professional fuel thieves target local haulage firm (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Professional fuel thieves target local haulage firm

THIEVES have stolen over £1,500 worth of diesel fuel from Wootton Bassett haulage firm SL Transport.

About 18,000 litres of the fuel was siphoned from five of the company's vehicles, including an artic lorry, at the Whitehill Industrial Estate at 8.20pm on Thursday, October 20.

Depot manager Tony Lockyear said he was sure the job had been carried out by professionals.

"Looking at our CCTV, we had a silver Peugeot 206 go round the estate with what looked like two occupants," he said.

"We think they were scouting the place out because within about a minute or so, there was a Transit van that came onto the estate and took some fuel out of one of the vehicles.

"It then went down to the far end of the estate where we've got another unit and a vehicle outside unfortunately and they took a large quantity from there and from another one round the corner.

"They were very clever, they're not amateurs by any means. They were very professional at what they did.

"There was definitely a gang working, there's no doubt about that.

Mr Lockyear said the firm hoped it was covered by insurance, although he added that the vehicles were not usually left out overnight.

"We're investigating that at the moment," he said. "We're just talking to our insurance company see what we can do about it.

"We can't really do any more than what we're actually doing, regarding CCTV.

"It's just unfortunate that on that day, the vehicles getting back later someone left outside and they're not normally left outside.

"The fuel caps were forced off and a lot of stuff was taken."

Police are seeking the driver of a white Transit van caught on CCTV at the site.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Amanda Ritchie at Wootton Bassett Police Station on (01793) 852213 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.