UK drivers are facing fines of up to £5,000 and potential prison sentences of up to two years amid a sharp rise in fuel thefts at petrol stations. Recent data reveals a worrying surge in “fill up and flee” incidents as motorists grapple with escalating fuel prices influenced by the Iran conflict.
Forecourt Eye, a crime prevention specialist for the petrol industry, reports a 27% increase in forecourt thefts since the conflict began. In March alone, more than 6,500 litres of fuel were stolen daily, marking a 15.7% increase from the previous month. The daily monetary value of stolen fuel rose from £8,378 to £10,652 during the same period.
Pay My Fuel’s data shows that the average number of weekly drive-offs per forecourt jumped from 2.1 in March 2025 to 3.4 this March, a rise of approximately 62%. Forecourt Trader estimates that there have been 131,000 such incidents since 2021.
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Claire Nichol, CEO of the British Oil Security Syndicate, highlighted the financial impact: “At current fuel prices, deliberate fuel theft is costing the sector over £100 million annually. We urge forecourt operators to stay vigilant, especially during peak times, and watch for customers making small purchases who don’t pay for fuel."
Gordon Balmer from the Petrol Retailers Association emphasized the broader impact, stating, “When drivers evade payment, all motorists bear the cost. If debts can’t be recovered, they are written off, driving up operating expenses for forecourts.”
Balmer noted collaboration with the government has improved recovery rates, thanks to a digital service that allows petrol retailers to obtain registered keeper details from the DVLA. Both the government and police are actively working to crack down on offenders.
The rise in fuel prices since the war’s onset has contributed to the spike in thefts, with some cases linked to organized crime and others involving individuals who claim to have forgotten their payment methods. Balmer acknowledged the role of living cost pressures in these behaviors.
Superintendent Lisa Maslen, head of the National Business Crime Centre, affirmed that fuel theft places heavy financial strain on retailers and demands significant policing resources. She added that police are adopting proactive measures to identify and prosecute repeat offenders.
The offence of Making Off Without Payment, under the Theft Act 1978, carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine, underscoring the seriousness of this growing crime.