Rising petrol and diesel prices correlated with a 19% increase in unpaid fuel incidents in March, with the average forecourt now losing £1,000 a month, according to the British Oil Security Syndicate.
BOSS’ Forecourt Crime Index was up by 4% over the last three months compared with the previous quarter, with the increase tracking against unleaded prices rising from 137.2ppl to 158.3p, and diesel up from 146.6p to 191.5p.
The organisation says each unpaid-fuel incident, which comprise both drive-offs and no-means-of-payment, see retailers lose an average of £60.16. NMOPs make up 65% of fuel losses, BOSS says, while the overall cost to the sector from unpaid-fuel incidents stands at £100m a year.
Claire Nichol, executive director at BOSS commented: “As fuel prices rise, we consistently see an increase in unpaid fuel incidents. At current prices, deliberate non‑payment is costing the forecourt sector more than £100m a year.
“Operators should be particularly vigilant during busy periods and alert to customers making small purchases without declaring fuel.”
Nichol added that sites using BOSS’ Payment Watch system recorded a small reduction in unpaid fuel reports over the past 12 months.
