Fuel Theft - What can be done?
Using CCTV to capture criminals red handed
With the price of fuel ever increasing it is no question why we have people trying to get away with a full tank. Every year 640,000 people drive off without paying for their fuel, this costs the country £19 million per annum. A further 941,000 people fill up with no means of payment costing £17 million each year, these two crimes add up to a loss of over £36 million, an issue that can be solved with smart surveillance systems. When divided between UK fuel stations the £36 million figure is over £4,250 each lost per year. Could stopping the crime all together be cheaper than it costs us?
What would a fuel station manager need to do?
As a fuel station manager, area manager or owner it is a priority for staff, customers and assets to be safe at all times whilst also maintaining a welcoming atmosphere which is why it's hard to tackle crimes of this nature as everyone could be a suspect. Other industry guides that touch on fuel theft seem to be fairly brief however suggest some adequate solutions as a first line of defence. They propose that every car should be checked by the cashier for whether the driver is concealing their identity, if the car identity is hidden and are they looking for a quick getaway?
If they are wearing headwear such as a hat, hood or mask they are a possible threat and may try to get away without paying under the impression that if they hide their face they will not be identified. Often criminals try to use old knackered vehicles for multiple assaults as they are no longer registered and harder to trace, beware of cars in a bad state that look unfit for road use.
What systems could you install?
Smart IP cameras and integrated security solutions, in our view, could easily find culprits accountable and have them apprehended. Number plate recognition is already in use for smart car parks and speed cameras but why not for our thousands of fuel thieves? Integrated systems could make gates close or bollards rise depending on payment for instance if someone believes they are above the system they get locked in the premises. Number plate recognition could spot previous offenders or fake plates and not serve these customers, furthermore, to get the most out of your system these cameras can also be used for plenty of other jobs. They have thermal vision to detect and alarm in the case of fire, night vision technology as half of burglaries happen at night, tripwire service that spots any trespassers and endless video analytics regarding customer footfall, shoplifting and staff theft.
Who is the best CCTV manufacturer on the market?
Traditional CCTV is always better than none at all but with constant development from companies such as Hikvision and 8% of their profits being put back into research and development it may be an idea to review looking at smart IP cameras. They have been made increasingly affordable in recent years and as they are connected wirelessly and take less time and money to install.
New digital video recorders (DVRs) such as the Hikvision Turbo HD can be used in a dual nature, this means aged cameras resolution can be improved through better wiring and new IP cameras can be connected to the same surveillance system. This provides a perfect scalable solution for those with a limited budget, the system itself is scalable as you can add one feature at a time and this is financially flexible in the way that you can do it depending on your finances.
How it works
Send an Enquiry
Let us know what type of security system you need
We Find the Best Installer
Once we receive your enquiry, our team will find a reliable, certified security installer.
Receive Quotes
You will be contacted by a top-tier installer who will provide you with a detailed quote.
Install & Support
After selecting the right installer, they will carry out the installation, ensuring your system is fully functional.