With the price of gas on a seemingly never-ending climb, fuel thefts have also continued to rise. With thieves more brazen than ever before, how can commercial gas stations and fuel storage facilities stay protected?
High gas prices have led to more incidents of fuel theft.
The rising price of gas is an ongoing issue that Canadians across the country are facing. Whether its businesses or individuals, everyone who drives a vehicle has felt the effects of increasing gas prices. The rise of fuel costs has unfortunately led to surge in the number of fuel thefts at commercial gas stations and fuel storage facilities, and law enforcement and legislators have been grappling with how to handle the problem.
Fuel theft surges at gas stations and fuel storage sites across Canada.
In June 2023, a suspect was caught by security cameras stealing gas to fill a vehicle (that was previously stolen) at a gas station in Bonnyville, AB. Authorities attempted to catch up with the suspect not long after, but he fled at a high rate of speed and was not located or charged with the crime. (1)
In July 2023, an individual stole gas from a service station in LaSalle, ON. The “gas and dash” incident saw the suspect fueling up his vehicle and two off-road dirt bikes and then departing the station without paying. These are only some reported incidents in a country full of many. (2)
Gas stations are not the only properties where there is a risk of fuel theft. In September 2023, two individuals were seen on a property on Kingsville, ON where they stole $1,000 worth of fuel from a storage tank. There was some security footage of the suspects, but no footage of the actual incident was captured – and most importantly, no proactive measures taken to deter the theft. (3)
One province in particular has seen a sharp increase in gas & diesel theft.
The province of Saskatchewan has bared the brunt of fuel theft more than most. In 2022, gas and diesel theft was up almost 70% compared to 2021, and that trend continued well into 2023. There were a total of 818 reports across the province, with “gas and dashes” at gas stations being the most common type of fuel theft committed, where customers pump gas and then leave without paying. Local businesses and construction sites were not immune either – there were hundreds of reports of theft from large fuel tanks and suspects siphoning fuel from heavy machinery across a number of different types of properties. (4)
The school system in Saskatchewan is also grappling with the rise of fuel theft. In May 2023, school officials discovered that $3,043 worth of gas was stolen from the fuel tanks of school vehicles parked on school property. Not only did the theft affect the school’s ability to serve their community, they were also unsure if their insurance provider would cover the costs of the fuel that was stolen. Whether it’s because people are hurting financially or looking to make a profit from fuel thefts – the negative effects have been felt everywhere. (5)
Governments attempt to help curb fuel theft through legislation:
Provincial governments across Canada have all experienced the negative effects of gas and fuel theft, and have been attempting to help solve the issue through legislation. The price of gas in Ontario has risen along with the rest of the country and so too have incidents of theft. A bill has been proposed in the province that would mandate that all gas must be “pay before you pump”, requiring all customers to purchase the gas before being able to pump it into their vehicles. The Ontario Convenience Stores Association has estimated that there was $3.75 million in losses from fuel thefts at gas stations across Ontario in 2022 alone; a stark increase from just a few years prior. (6)
With fuel thieves unrelenting in their attempts to steal gas and diesel, what can be done to protect fuel and the businesses that rely on it?
How can proactive security help prevent fuel theft?
Video Security Units cover the perimeter & key areas
The ability to capture high-resolution video images is essential to site protection. Our innovative Video Security Units are placed in key areas on-site – in the direct line of sight of fuel storage and gas pumps. Through the strategic deployment of video security units that utilize two stationary cameras for perimeter coverage and a PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera to zoom in on the details, fuel thieves don’t have places they can hide without coming into camera view.
Artificial Intelligence accurately detects fuel thieves
The ability to detect individuals and potential criminals right from when they step foot on a site is of paramount importance. Leveraging the power of our proprietary artificial intelligence system, our Remote Monitoring Operators can easily differentiate human movement from other movement on-site such as wildlife, weather, and inanimate objects. This revolutionary system enables efficient and effective detections and deterrence of criminal activity.
Live Remote Video Monitoring deters fuel thieves from striking
When potential thieves recognize they are being monitored, they are more likely to desist in their actions. Live Remote Video Monitoring can help protect commercial gas stations and fuel storage sites during off-peak hours and overnight when thieves are more likely to strike. Our Monitoring Operators will issue proactive deterrents to warn them they are being monitored – using authoritative voice commands. Once potential thieves hear these messages, they will often leave faster than they arrived.
License Plate Readers & syncroPlates tracks vehicles at gas stations
Commercial gas stations are hubs of vehicles coming through to fill up their tanks. By utilizing our License Plate Reader cameras, stations can effectively track these vehicles – the cameras capture the alphanumerical values of license plates, then converts and stores them within our own searchable database, syncroPlates. In the event that somebody tries to fuel up without paying, there is now a way to easily track their license plate and increase chances of an apprehension.
syncroReports provides clients with a window into their security
To get a full picture of their site security, clients need transparency and visibility into the daily occurrences that are taking place. Through our proprietary reporting platform, syncoReports, clients can view detailed Log Reports about any incidents on-site, as well as view live feeds of their properties. Commercial gas stations in particular are busy thoroughfares– from the smallest occurrences to more serious incidents, clients can stay abreast of any events from their properties – and help to keep fuel thieves from striking.
Fuel theft will continue to rise in Canada, as gas prices show no sign of slowing down anytime soon. Through proactive security, commercial gas stations and fuel storage facilities can prevent thieves from striking – keeping fuel secure and available to those who need it.
Resources:
- “Bonnyville RCMP investigating vehicle & fuel theft”, RCMP Press Releases, Lakeland Connect, June 22, 2023
- “LaSalle Police asking for help identifying person of interest in gas theft”, Dustin Coffman, AM 800 CKLW, July 20, 2023
- “Police investigating gas theft”, Rob Hindi, AM 800 CKLW, September 12, 2023
- “Fuel thefts in Saskatchewan spiked by 70% in 2022”, Jeffrey Meskens, Global News, March 7, 2023
- “Fuel theft among three losses reported by Saskatchewan school divisions”, CKOM News, May 5, 2023
- “Ontario bill aims to stop gas station thefts with pay-before-you-pump rule”, Mike Crawley, CBC News, April 1, 2023