Rural domestic fuel tanks targeted by thieves as oil prices rocket.

As war continues to rage in Ukraine, criminals in Aberdeenshire are cashing in on high oil prices by targeting rural properties and siphoning domestic heating oil tanks.

Police officers in Aberdeenshire South have recorded eight thefts in the last six weeks – a “considerable increase” on the norm of less than one a month.

Constable Mike Urquhart said around 3,000 litres has been stolen from Banff, Buckie, Fintray, Johnshaven, Laurencekirk, Turriff and St Cyrus in recent weeks.

The crime reduction officer said: “With fuel prices going through the roof, we’ve seen quite a considerable increase in thefts from domestic properties.

“Criminals are just taking advantage of demand and huge prices”.

The spike, said to be “directly related to the fuel price increases“, has left rural residents with empty tanks and re-filling charges costing at least hundreds of pounds.

PC Urquhart added: “At Laurencekirk, a farmer’s got two domestic oil tanks in his garden.

“It was 1,000 litres that were taken the weekend before last. That’s more than just filling jerry cans. That must be a bowser that’s involved. It’s 100 kilograms of fuel.”

In another incident between the weekend and yesterday, thieves struck a home between Ellon and Hatton – leaving a “devastated” mum facing an £802 bill to top up her tank.