COPS PUT BRAKES ON PETROL THIEVES

POLICE in Ballymoney are cracking down after a "drastic" increase in the number of reports of people driving off from petrol stations without paying for fuel.

The PSNI did not give any specific figures but did confirm that cases have "more than doubled" and one theory is that the credit crunch could be leading to hard-up drivers turning to crime.

A PSNI spokesman said: "We have had a drastic increase in the number of drive-offs reported from petrol stations.

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"Drivers should make sure they have the means to pay for fuel prior to filling up and the must ensure they pay before leaving.

"We realise it is possible for people to make a genuine mistake but anybody failing to pay for fuel may be prosecuted.

"We have had a number of cases where there has been a genuine mistake but staff at filling stations are now routinely asking customers if they have obtained fuel.

"Police have visited the filling stations in the last week to give crime prevention advice.

"This drastic increase could be because of the increase in the number of visitors to the north coast in general or could be due to the credit crunch," said the spokesperson.

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