Ways To Stop Thieves Getting Their Hands On Your Heating Oil

There has been increased incidences of thieves stealing people’s heating oil in recent times. This type of crime is on the rise as the cost of fuel increased due to the recent bad weather and the demand this creates. Those involved in the activity know that they can make a lot of money by emptying tanks of heating oil. Because the need to break and enter is virtually eliminated, there is a decreased risk for the thief. They will usually strike after a heating oil delivery has been made. But below are some precautions you can take to make sure that you are not as likely to be targeted.

- It is often recommended that you put a lock on the lid of your tank. The only problem with this is that criminals can still just cut the hose and get the heating oil that way. They could even damage your tank by puncturing a hole in it.

- Be vigilant about the levels of oil in the tank. If you notice that the levels are falling more quickly than usual, you will know that someone is stealing your oil.

- You can deter thieves by installing a sensor light or camera beside your tank. These are not so expensive these days.

- You could also look into having a lock put on your garden gate or for added security, how about buying a dog.

- It would be more sensible to contact the police straight away if you see anyone near your tank and not to go out and try to tackle them or scare them away. You cannot be sure of how a thief will react especially if he is desperate enough to try to steal your oil in the first place.

You can reduce the amount of oil that can be stolen by not filling it up completely. Not the ideal solution, but just a way to cut your losses.

Some people spend a lot of money heating their homes in the winter. Electricity and gas prices are very high and show no signs of coming down any time soon. Many individuals are now changing over to cheaper home heating oil though. And when this happens they have to ensure the tanks re always full of heating oil ensuring they can always heat their home in winter.