WA Police commissioner Col Blanch says cops preparing for increase in fuel theft amid war in Middle East

WA Police say they are bracing for a rise in fuel thefts driven by a community “fear” that supplies will run dry amid the war in the Middle East. Speaking on radio, WA Police commissioner Col Blanch said officers were preparing for an increase stealing of fuel as concerns are raised about availability and panic buying as a result of the conflict. “We do see fuel theft outside of times like this, but certainly, the motivator for more fuel theft now will be. . . that anxiety and that fear of the unknown, of what’s going forward and the availability of fuel,” Mr Blanch told ABC radio. “But what people would really be doing is just stealing it from someone else who is in the exact same circumstance as you, has the same fears, the same anxiety, has the same cost pressures, so I’m not sure that contributes to a better outcome if you steal someone’s fuel. “You can get charged for it, it can ruin your life, you can go to prison, all of those things can happen. “Even though, you might say, ‘but you know, I needed the fuel because I thought I couldn’t buy any in the future,’ that’s not going to be a reason that you can avoid court.” Wheatbelt Police is already boosting patrols around farming areas following reports of theft in the region. “Fuel theft often occurs at night and can involve bulk fuel tanks, farm machinery, or mobile fuel trailers,” local police said on social media. “If you see vehicles carrying multiple jerry cans, fuel pods or behaving unusually around rural properties at night, please report it.” Farmers are urged to ensure they lock fuel tanks and trailers and consider installing lighting, CCTV or trail cameras to deter theft. Mr Blanch said fuel supply was not impacting police operations. “We always have emergency reserves, even when we’re not in this situation, as police to make sure that we’re able to respond to triple-0 calls,” Mr Blanch said. “There is a national plan, there’s an exercise plan, there’s a State plan, we’re going through those motions just preparing for the worst. “We do that as police . . we prepare for the worst.” Despite concerns about fuel theft, Quinns Rocks Astron service station attendant Aslam Tamin said he’d noticed a drop in people driving away without paying, despite the increased prices. “In the last month, I counted around 32 cars who drove off, but this month just maybe just two or three,” he said. Premier Roger Cook on Wednesday insisted WA had adequate fuel supplies until May but wasn’t confident of a plan beyond then.