Fuel thefts up 76% in 2022: Saskatchewan RCMP

Rising prices are making fuel a more attractive target for thieves, according to the Saskatchewan RCMP.

The RCMP reviewed fuel thefts from January to April and found 178 reported incidents in the province, a jump of 76 per cent over the same period in 2021.

Thieves targeted both gas and diesel, the RCMP said, and 137 of the thefts were people failing to pay after filling at the pumps. There were also 10 reported thefts from farm fuel tanks, 12 thefts from bulk fuel tanks, 10 stolen jerry cans, and nine incidents of siphoning or drilling to steal fuel directly from gas tanks.

“Obviously, there has been a significant increase in the price of fuel recently,” Monica Deters, the officer in charge of RCMP Crime Reduction and Crime Prevention, said in a statement. “We can’t speculate on motives in these thefts, but it is important that individuals and businesses be aware they may be occurring more frequently.”

When it comes to preventing fuel theft, Deters said it’s important to lock up all fuel tanks and ensure they’re in a well-lit area. She also recommended video or photo surveillance around fuel tanks, and parking vehicles in a locked garage or outbuilding whenever possible.

Any suspicious activity that may be related to fuel theft should be reported to police, Deters added, even if it does not involve your own vehicle.