Thieves hit truck tanks as diesel fuel prices rise

Big tanks on big trucks are being targeted by thieves as the price of diesel fuel soars to almost $1.50 a litre in the Vancouver area.

"Diesel is becoming more valuable than copper," said Don McGill, secretary-treasurer for Teamsters Local 213, referring to the market for stolen copper. "We're starting to hear more and more of tanks being siphoned."

About 6,000 of the local's 10,000 members are truck drivers. Some have reported that thieves watch for them to leave their vehicles and then strike, Mr. McGill said from the local's Vancouver head office.

"It's becoming a major concern."

Recently, two of Lloyd Davies's dozen gravel trucks in Mission were hit by diesel dippers.

During one incident about 135 litres were siphoned and, in the second, about 270 litres were poached. The value of the stolen diesel was about $600.

"We're going to put in a security system," Mr. Davies said.

Langley resident Sabik Singh drives a gravel truck with a trailer and while his tank hasn't been tampered with, he's heard from many drivers whose tanks were drained in the past few months. It's never been this bad.

"It's getting very disturbing," said Mr. Singh, a Teamsters member for 48 years.

If a vehicle doesn't have a locking fuel cap, thieves remove the cap and transfer diesel from one tank to another.

Thieves pull up in a vehicle, usually with a concealed steel drum to hold the pilfered fuel, connect the pump and start the heist, Mr. Singh said.

Diesel theft isn't usually tracked by RCMP detachments, said Corporal Jack Hundial, spokesman for the Surrey RCMP, but that doesn't mean it isn't happening.

Truckers may not bother to report thefts because they don't think the court system or police can do much, or else they may not realize they've been a victim, said Staff Sergeant Dave Bown of Victoria's Regional Crime Unit.

Big rigs can be outfitted with two tanks on each side holding a total of 1,000 litres or about $1,500 worth of fuel. Smaller trucks can carry up to $500 worth when full.

If a truck has had 50 to 100 litres removed, the operator may not notice, Staff Sgt. Bown said.