Value of insurance claims for oil thefts quadruples in two years amid spike in stolen fuel from Yorkshire's rural communities

Insurance specialists have warned crimes in rural communities will become more expensive amid fears over an increase in oil thefts.

Figures show that the value of claims being paid out for oil thefts has quadrupled in the last two years.

It comes as the chief executive of The Neighbourhood Watch Network, John Hayward-Cripps earlier this week told The Yorkshire Post that he would be “very surprised” if oil thefts did not become a much more significant issue due to a massive increase in price for the fuel - in a similar way to when lead prices increase and churches become crime targets.

Andrew Chalk, rural insurance specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “As the UK’s main insurer of the countryside, many of our customers rely on heating oil and sadly, recent reports are suggesting a rise in thefts from rural homes and farms.