Fuel theft across the UK has surged by 23% since the start of the Iran war in February, with more than £1.2m worth of petrol and diesel stolen from forecourts each week, according to Forecourt Eye, a payment collection company. Petrol station owner Shailesh Parekh, who runs six garages in Birmingham, says the problem has become so severe that drivers now steal fuel with audacity, often right in front of staff.
Rise in fuel theft and its drivers
Data from Forecourt Eye shows incidents rose from 9,089 in January and February to 11,170 in March and April, a 23% increase. Parekh reports that at his Erdington station alone, three fuel runners occurred in the first week of July 2026, and 12 in June. Across his six garages, fuel theft cost him over £40,000 last year. The rise coincides with increasing fuel prices: petrol rose from 131p to 155p per litre between mid-February and June 2026, and diesel from 141p to 176p, making a 60-litre tank cost £93 and £106 respectively.
Police response and legal grey areas
Despite CCTV and licence plate evidence, police often treat fuel theft as a civil matter. Parekh says that when he reports incidents, officers tell him “it’s a civil thing”. Gordon Balmer, executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association, confirms this: one member reported a drive-off and was told incorrectly it was a civil offence. West Midlands police data from a 2022 FOI request shows that of 1,150 reports of drive-offs between January and March 2022, 98% (1,126) resulted in no further action, with 1,106 having no identified suspect.
Violence and shoplifting add to woes
Parekh’s staff have faced violence. Cashier Garry Backhouse was threatened with a blade and later attacked while trying to stop a shoplifter. Parekh says his forecourt shop is frequently ransacked, and he blames addiction issues and prison leavers placed in local HMOs. To protect staff, no one works alone, and the shop door is locked after 8pm.
Technological solutions and false accusations
Some garages use VARS Technology, an automatic number plate recognition system that flags blacklisted vehicles. But such systems have falsely accused innocent drivers, as in a case where a family was banned from 1,300 forecourts after an erroneous debt claim. Thieves also clone plates, leaving genuine owners to receive false theft letters.
Community role and future doubts
Parekh notes that petrol stations are community assets, open late and offering more than fuel. But after decades in the trade, he questions his future: “I’m beginning to think: why am I doing this?”
