Friday 3rd April 2026

By Bridlington Gold Radio Editor

With heating oil prices climbing across the UK, police are urging residents in Bridlington and the wider East Yorkshire area to take extra steps to protect their fuel supplies from opportunistic thieves.

Many homes in rural and coastal communities rely on heating oil, making tanks an attractive target for criminals who monitor market prices and strike when costs rise.

Advice for Domestic Heating Oil Users

Officers are encouraging households to review their security and consider the following measures:
• Keep tanks visible from your home, increasing the chance of spotting suspicious activity.
• Install motion‑sensor lighting and consider a motion‑activated alarm near the tank.
• Use locking fuel caps and fit anti‑siphoning devices to make theft more difficult.
• Position CCTV cameras to cover the tank area.
• Screen tanks from the road using fencing, cages or even prickly planting to deter access.
• Fit a fuel tank alarm, either one that detects tampering or one that alerts you if fuel levels suddenly drop. Some systems can link to lighting or send text alerts.

Police stress that they can only recommend products that have been attack‑tested and accredited with the Secured by Design Police Preferred Specification. Suitable products can be found on the Secured by Design and Sold Secure websites.

Diesel Theft in Rural Areas

Diesel theft continues to affect farms and rural properties around East Yorkshire, where isolated tanks are particularly vulnerable.
Police recommend:
• Keeping tanks close to the main property where they can be monitored.
• Using CCTV and restricting access with walls, fences or hedges if tanks must be stored away from buildings.
• Installing dusk‑to‑dawn or motion‑activated lighting as a deterrent.
• Checking fuel levels regularly and looking for signs of tampering, such as spilt fuel or damaged locks.
• Avoiding isolated storage locations wherever possible.
• Using a mobile bowser that can be locked away securely when not in use.
• Adding ‘diesel dye’ to make stolen fuel traceable and less appealing to thieves.

Further guidance is available through Secured by Design, including a detailed fuel security booklet.