The proprietor of Hannah’s Haulage has reported a loss of nearly $10,000 due to diesel theft from his trucks over the past month. This rise in fuel thefts has also been noted by mechanics, who are increasingly encountering clients with damaged vehicles after fuel has been siphoned from them.
Located in Greater Western Sydney, Hannah’s Haulage has experienced significant losses as thieves have siphoned diesel from truck tanks while drivers were resting. Scott Hannah, the owner, indicated that the first incident occurred about a month ago, coinciding with a surge in fuel prices stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“Thieves are taking whatever they can, whether it’s a 20-litre, 40-litre, or even a thousand-litre container,” he explained. In total, three of his trucks have been targeted, with two incidents occurring in New South Wales and one in Brisbane.
Mr. Hannah mentioned that most thefts happen while drivers are parked overnight. “Often, the drivers are asleep in their trucks,” he added. Although the trucks are equipped with 24-hour surveillance cameras, he pointed out that these measures are limited in effectiveness as culprits often arrive wearing masks or dark clothing, making identification difficult.
“It’s frustrating, but there’s little we can do,” Mr. Hannah remarked, noting that his drivers are increasingly vigilant about their parking locations throughout New South Wales and beyond. “Some individuals behave well, while others do not,” he concluded.
Detective Acting Inspector Andrew McLean from NSW Police confirmed that the rise in fuel prices has prompted an uptick in reported thefts. “We’re seeing various incidents reported, from road work sites to construction locations,” he stated.
Mechanics in Western Sydney have also noted this trend, with many customers arriving with trucks that have been broken into and had their fuel stolen. Leo Potros, who owns Leo’s Truck and Trailer Repairs in Wetherill Park, described the situation as increasingly common. “In my 23 years in this industry, I’ve never seen anything quite like this,” he said.
Potros reported that his team is frequently called to recover vehicles that have been vandalized. “Just last night, a customer found out that someone had siphoned all the fuel from his truck before he could head to work,” he shared. He has repaired over ten fuel tanks in the last month, costing clients thousands of dollars in damages. “After-hours service and travel can lead to expenses of around $2,000 for customers,” he added.
Many clients are resorting to “extreme” measures, such as adding locks to fuel tanks and installing additional cameras, but thieves are finding ways to bypass these security enhancements.
Dimitry Chrisis, director of Clean My DPF, a company specializing in diesel particulate filter cleaning, noted the frustration many Australians feel regarding rising fuel costs. “Trucks are incurring thousands of dollars in extra expenses just to transport goods up and down the coast,” he remarked. He mentioned that some of his associates in the trucking industry are contemplating withdrawing their vehicles from operation due to these rising costs.
Simon O’Hara, the chief executive of Road Freight NSW, has observed an increase in organized crime in both Sydney and regional areas, particularly targeting flatbed trucks equipped with intermediate bulk containers. He noted that thieves are also breaking into yards where heavy vehicles are stored. “This trend initially began in regional New South Wales, with reports of tank thefts, and is now spreading into Sydney,” he stated. As a result, more trucking companies are enhancing their security measures at their yards.
O’Hara warned that if the geopolitical situation in the Middle East continues to affect fuel supply and prices, the trucking industry might face further challenges in the near future.
