Newcastle Police Advise Shoppers About Preventing Oil Theft

Newcastle Neighbourhood Policing Team hosted a Crime Prevention advice session at Tesco’s, Castlewellan Road, Newcastle.

Crime Prevention Officer Dolores Coulter, Newcastle Neighbourhood Policing Team Sergeant James Mc Ilveen and Constable Karen Thomas offered winter crime prevention advice, as well as tips on home security, preventing bike thefts, heating oil and diesel thefts and personal safety.

[caption id="attachment_43403" align="alignright" width="390"] At teh advice session in Newcastle Tesco were Constable Karen Thomas, Sergeant James McIlveen, Dolores Coulter, and Brian Mulligan, (Tesco customer assistant..[/caption]

The store visit on Wednesday 9 October attracted attention from local shoppers. A polce spokesperson said: “As we enter the winter period, the PSNI are providing some important advice on preventing incidents on heating oil thefts which can increase during the colder months.” :

*  Check your heating oil regularly and often.

*  There are many devices on the market for measuring how much oil is in your tank, buy one and use it.

*  Consider adding security features such as a lockable fuel cap or sensor lighting etc.

*  Is your heating oil tank easily accessible to vehicular traffic – next to a road, car park etc? If it is you may be at higher risk.

*  Be a good neighbour and report anything suspicious around a neighbour’s home, for example persons taking hoses through to oil tank etc.

*  Make sure that your boiler is securely locked up with a good quality padlock.

*  Make it hard for an intruder to gain access to the rear of your home. Install locks to the area of the tank.

*  Use plants with thorns or spikes around your oil tank.

*  Install an automatic sensor PIR operated security light or, ideally, install ‘dusk to dawn’ lighting.

*  Consider a shed audible alarm.

*  Mark your boiler with your post code and house number using an engraving tool.

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