Thieves target lorries for diesel

The thieves have mainly targeted lorries in secure compounds in industrial areas of the city, with businesses on Foster Street and Bankside taking several hits.

Waste management company Wastewise has adopted extra security measures after three thefts in July and September, with the last in October when £600 of diesel was taken from two trucks.

In one theft on Foster Street, £1,000 worth of fuel was stolen from four lorries. In another two buses were targeted.

There have been four similar thefts in the East Riding.

Police believe the gang has a regular outlet and patrols have been told to look out for anyone carrying piping, containers or smelling of diesel.

Detective Inspector Darren Webb, from Hull’s CID said: “Earlier this year we started to get quite a few cars attacked and we really did focus on that and identified a small group of individuals who were responsible. We charged them and that has stopped.

“I think the reason for the more recent diesel thefts is the economic climate, but it is clearly going somewhere, which is potentially to other businesses who are happy to buy cheap diesel. It will be a small group of individuals who won’t be using it themselves, they will have an outlet, possibly a local business.”

Det Insp Webb said they were hoping the public would help find out who was behind the thefts and where the diesel was stored: “People will have a whisper about where the fuel is going.

“If we can stop the outlet, we can stop the crimes.”

He said businesses could guard against theft by taking extra security measures, putting vehicles in harder to reach areas and directing CCTV cameras toward them.

Setting up business watch groups with other local businesses could also help.