Rural residents are under increasing threat from having fuel drums stolen from outside their homes.
A fuel stealing crime wave is hitting the countryside as a result of rising fuel prices, a specialist insurance firm has claimed.
According to NFU Mutual, both red diesel and heating oil thefts have been occurring in unusually high numbers at rural homes. Indeed, figures from the firm - based on analysis of home insurance claims -suggest that the rate of these incidents over the first half of the year is as much as 30 percent above the same period in 2007.
In the interim, high wholesale oil and gas prices have led most providers to impose double-digit price hikes on their energy bills. British Gas, which has around 15 million customers across the UK, even put up its general gas tariff by 35 percent this summer.
NFU Mutual drew attention to the recent case of a 60-year-old Warwickshire farmer, who was seriously injured by thieves when he attempted to prevent them from getting away after stealing diesel from his property. He received a fractured skull after being hit by their 4x4 vehicle as they sped from the scene.
"This attack - and a similar incident in County Durham earlier in the year - in which a farmer's wife died and her son was injured - show the lengths thieves will go to steal oil," said NFU Mutual spokesman Tim Price.
"Waking up to find thieves in their farm yards is becoming one of many farmers worst nightmares as they know how serious the consequences could be."
The insurer also released a list of recommendations for farmers and other rural residents to better safeguard their homes against fuel thefts. Installing lockable gates and perimeter fencing, keeping notes on suspicious vehicles' registration numbers and removing empty oil drums from sight were all cited by the firm.
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