Cooking oil thefts on the increase in Derbyshire

We are sharing some crime prevention advice after a recent rise in reports of used cooking oil thefts across the county.

Most of the thefts have been from businesses in the north of the county, though we have also seen reports from as far south as the Derby and Swadlincote areas.

Over the last three months, there have been over two dozen such reports.

It is believed that thieves are targeting businesses such as takeaways and pubs, to steal the used oil to sell on to make biofuels for use in diesel vehicles.

As businesses are required to arrange recycling of used cooking oils, we understand that some criminals are exploiting this process and either pretending to be legitimate recycling companies or targeting unsecured premises to steal the oil before it can be recycled.

Businesses are urged to review their security and processes for disposing of cooking oils, to prevent them being targeted by thieves. We would recommend the following steps to any concerned business owners:

• Ask suppliers for locking barrels. Many cooking oil barrels have a securing ring around the top which can be padlocked to prevent siphoning
• Ensure CCTV cameras and security lighting are installed to help deter thieves
• Keep used oil barrels indoors if it is safe do so, or ensure they are out of reach of opportunistic thieves
• Regular monitoring of used cooking oil levels will indicate if a theft has occurred. Alarms can also be installed in containers if it falls below a certain level

As the cost of living continues to soar, we know that some motorists may be tempted to fill their fuel tanks with seemingly cheap biofuels. However, in the long run use of such products is likely to cause increased costs as they can be harmful to modern diesel engines as they pose a serious risk of clogging fuel injectors and emission control devices.

If you have been affected by cooking oil theft, please report it to us via one of the following methods:

• Facebook – send us a private message to our Facebook page
• Twitter – direct message our contact centre via @DerPolContact
• Website – We have several crime reporting tools on our website or use our online contact form
• Phone – call us on 101

You can also anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting the Crimestoppers website.