Haulier blames fuel prices for diesel theft
Martin Pinches said someone had stolen 400 litres of diesel from two of his lorries
Haulier says fuel prices behind diesel theft
Pinches said diesel had become "liquid gold"
A haulage firm in the West Midlands has said thieves are being driven by rising fuel prices after 400 litres of diesel were stolen.
Martin Pinches, director of M Pinches & Sons Ltd in Worcester, said the fuel was taken from two vehicles at the weekend.
"[It happened] because of the price of fuel," he said, adding that it was "an added cost that everyone has been burdened with."
Pinches said fuel had become "liquid gold" and put the value of the missing diesel at about £800.
"Because we're a business, and we use more fuel, it's a bigger burden on us really," he added.
"It's always a bit disappointing, isn't it?"
Pinches said the thieves also damaged numerous fuel sending units and fuel caps on the vehicles, causing lost revenue because they were off the road for a day while repairs were carried out.
"It does mount up."
West Mercia Police told the BBC it had "received a report of a burglary after a business was broken into sometime between 24 and 25 October.
A force spokesperson said: "It was reported that a large quantity of fuel was stolen from two lorries on the site. Inquiries are ongoing."
Pitches said someone cut the pipes on the fuel sending units to drain the diesel
During Wednesday's budget, Chancellor John Healey said the 5p "temporary" cut in fuel duty on petrol and diesel, introduced by Rishi Sunak in 2022, would be extended to July. It had been due to be phased out from January.
That means drivers will still pay the levy at 52p per litre.
Motor fuel prices have climbed sharply because of the continued impact of the Iran war on drivers, with diesel recently reaching new records after going above £2 per litre.
The cost of filling a typical family car with diesel has risen by around £30 since late February. A tankful of petrol costs about £23 more.
Pitches said something like this happening again is "always in the back of your mind".
"[To prevent it] we will maybe tell the drivers not to fill the lorries up until the morning they're going out".