Cranbourne Victoria’s fuel drive-off hot spot averaging ten a month

ANDREW JEFFERSON
JUNE 19, 2015
HERALD SUN

Tony Franza said fuel thefts cost his Albert Park service station up to $12,000 a year. Picture: Josie Hayden
THIEVES are averaging 10 drive-offs a month in Cranbourne, making it Victoria’s worst suburb for fuel rip-offs.
The postcode 3977 recorded 122 fuel thefts between April 2014 and March 2015.
Neighbouring Dandenong North (3175) was the second worst hit with 90 fuel thefts.
Altona Meadows (3028), Werribee (3030) and Laverton North (3026) rounded out the worst five postcodes.
Many stations now operate a prepay policy between 8pm and 5am to deter petrol drive-offs at night.
Some like the BP service station in Hampshire Rd, Sunshine have even moved to prepay 24 hours a day to the frustration of customers.
Victoria Police announced in July 2013 it would no longer investigate petrol drive-offs unless there was sufficient information to indicate criminality.
Service station franchisee Tony Franza said fuel thefts cost his Albert Park service station up to $12,000 a year.
“The ironic thing is someone could steal a chocolate bar they are committing a crime and the police would investigate but they won’t bother if it’s $100 worth of fuel,” Mr Franza said.
RACV General Manager Public Policy Brian Negus said more action needed to be taken by operators to prevent the rising number of fuel drive offs.
“Options which should be considered include prepaid systems for fuel purchase, including in store and credit cards at the pump, the use of ‘non reversible’ numberplate screws as there is evidence of numberplate theft for this purpose, and security cameras where they are not installed,” Mr Negus said.
The Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) says fuel thefts cost Victorian service stations up to $20 million a year.
AACS chief executive Jeff Rogut reinforced his opposition to mandatory prepaid systems.
“These stores prioritise convenience as a key point of difference, however prepaid petrol opens up the possibility for people to underestimate or over-estimate how much petrol they need,” Mr Rogut said.
“Then there would also be the enormous cost associated with converting pumps to become compliant for a prepay solution.”
Mr Rogut said petrol thefts rose almost 7 per cent last year, showing that police and state government efforts were “totally insufficient and weak.”
Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce spokesman David Dowsey said it was “unacceptable” that petrol thefts were no longer treated seriously by police.
Victoria Police spokesman Kris Hamilton denied police turned a blind eye to petrol theft.
“Police respond to reports of theft of petrol from a service station when there is clear evidence of a criminal offence,” he said.
A Parliamentary Committee to investigate petrol theft was set up in May by Police Minister Wade Noonan.
“Drivers who fill up then flee are potentially breaking the law and hurting small businesses,” Mr Noonan said.
“We want to know the best ways to reduce petrol drive-offs, and this inquiry will help us do that.’’
The inquiry will report back to Parliament before December 7.