Heating Oil Security
Obstuctive ( Defensive ) Bush or Tree Screening
Obstructive bush or tree planting for screening, is nature’s way of helping you to reduce crime. Thieves will not wish to force their way through or over a prickly hedge. The smallest trace of blood or shred of ripped clothing, with their DNA on, could help the Police Scene of Crime Officers identify the offender / s.
Gloucestershire Crimestoppers produce a leaflet which shows the advantages of Defensive Planting and provides a list of shrubs suitable for this screening purpose. These shrubs can, if planted around your tank, provide an effective and decorative thief deterrent barrier. If you would like a copy of this, contact your local Police Station or Crime Reduction Officer.
Securing Your Heating Oil Tank
Following on from the obstuctive, defensive, bush or tree planting tactic of screening, strong fences and walls can also make life difficult for the thief. A wooden or metal fence, trellis or wall can give significant protection to the tank but it must be remembered that the oil tanker driver will need access to fill the tank ! A metal grill or cage with a lockable access point across the top of this wall or fence can further improve security. The wall or fence should be as close to the tank and as high as possible. Of course a trellis could also be decorated with defensive planting as described above. A product called ‘Tank Guard’ has just become available which surrounds the existing storage tank with a metal enclosure. This sheet metal enclosure has lockable access doors to allow filling and maintenance and has internal anchorage points to fix it to the concrete base. A tank guard costs less than one tank full of oil and will last for many years.
Closed Circuit Television - CCTV
The use of CCTV as a crime prevention, deterrent and a crime detection tool has grown massively in recent years. It could play a part in the protection of oil tanks but before you spend lots of money on equipment make an assessment of your needs.
Ask yourself : 1. What do I hope to achieve by using CCTV?
2. How much am I prepared to spend ?
3. Is there a reasonable level of light where the cameras will be operating or do I need to think about using cameras with low light capability? (Most thefts take place at night).
4. What am I going to record the captured images on? Digital recording is best.
5. How am I going to provide the Police with any evidence I may capture?
The object of this whole leaflet has been to illustrate ways in which we can make it more difficult for a thief to steal heating oil. Nothing mentioned here will make it impossible for them achieve
their goal, but if some of the suggestions made are followed it just may make a difference.
If you require any further information on the content of this leaflet contact your local Crime Reduction Officer on:
Sussex Police on new Tel No : 101
Theft of heating and diesel oil has been a problem for many years and the Police have always noticed an increase in this type of crime whenever the price of crude oil rises. A rise in the price of fuel at the petrol pump inevitably leads to a rise in the cost of heating oil. This makes oil a more attractive proposition for the thief and they are now actively targeting fuel tanks at farms, transport depots and domestic properties. The thief may be using the oil for their own central heating or selling it on at a handsome profit.
These tanks can contain many thousands of pounds worth of oil and it therefore makes good sense to take a few precautions to protect them. The purpose of this leaflet is to give the reader a few ideas about what can be done to make life more difficult for the thief.
OFTEC or the “Oil Firing Technical Association for the petroleum industry” offers advice and guidance for those who use and store oil at their premises. There are certain rules and regulations that may apply to you and OFTEC will help clarify these for you.
They can be reached at www.oftec.org or by calling 0845 6585 080. They also produce an “easy guide to domestic oil storage” which is a very straightforward and
useful document.
Siting Your Heating Oil / Fuel Tank
The position of the tank can have a significant effect on how hard a target it is in the eyes of the thief. If the tank is close to the house, with one or more windows capable of giving a view of it, then the thief may consider the chances of being seen too high. If the tank is close to a road, path, drive or alleyway then it will be a far easier target. Hiding the tank behind the garage, shed or some other type of outbuilding is fairly commonplace, but it does give the thief the advantage.
Not many oil tanks are works of art so who wants a tank in full view? While it may not be desirable, or legal, to have the tank close to the house some sort of compromise location would be sensible. Of course this will not only be a major consideration when a new tank is to be installed but may be necessary if the tank has been targeted before. They do need to be within a reasonable distance of the road otherwise the oil supply company may not be able to refill it for you.
Control Switches On Your Oil Tank
Control switches that control the flow of oil should be turned off and the electricity supply isolated when the tank is not in use.
Security - Padlocks
A thief will usually come equipped with a limited range of tools to attack your tank so it’s worth spending a little more on good quality locks. Close shackle padlocks are the best as they offer most resistance to the most popular of burglar tools; the bolt cropper! Due to their design, close shackle padlocks have very little of the metal hoop (shackle) exposed and bolt croppers cannot get a good grip. Remember that buying a padlock is like buying a car, the more you pay the better the quality and the longer it will last.
Oil Level Gauges On Your Oil Tanks
Remote electronic oil level gauges are now available which will set off an audible alarm if the oil level in the tank suddenly drops or falls below a quarter full. These gauges can be located in the kitchen, or perhaps a utility room to warn of any potential problem. There are two or three different versions on the market at the moment and cost between £70 and £100.
Security Lights
Security lights can have a very positive effect and make any property a much harder target for the thief. It’s not always necessary to floodlight the area with high power beams, as a more subtle level of lighting may be all that is needed. Low energy ‘dusk ‘til dawn’ lights positioned close to the tank should, in most cases, provide sufficient light to illuminate any suspicious activity. This type of light can be both effective and inexpensive. High powered lights can be used but care should be taken not to cause any nuisance to neighbours or road users.
Securing Your Stables
If you have a stable please consider the following advice
All items of tack should be security marked; thieves are far less likely to steal items that can be traced back to their owners. It is sensible to keep a comprehensive list of all your tack including identification details such as photographs, makes and identification numbers of valuable items like saddles.
Tack can be protected in the following ways:
•Electronic tagging devices
•Forensic identity security solutions
•Micro-chipping
•Postcode letter stamps into leather
•Engraving postcode onto saddle stirrup-bars
•Freeze-marking postcode onto saddles
•Letter dies into bridles
•Embroider rugs
Besides saddles and bridles it is also important to security mark items such as electronic clippers and harnesses.
Stable Yard Security
In assessing the security of your stables, start by checking the perimeter.
•Robust fences and hedges with secure gates prevent horses straying and also prevent thieves from utilizing vehicles to get close to the property and carry stolen goods away.
•Gates are made more of a deterrent if they are chained and hinges protected with anti-lift locks.
•Refrain from leaving head-collars and lead ropes in fields as they could be used by thieves to remove horses.
•At entrances to remote stable yards display signs warning thieves that your horses and tack are security marked.
•The most secure stable yards are generally those who have the stables, tack room and valuable vehicles close to the main residence where they can be clearly observed.
•Careful use of lighting can assist in security particularly if it is dusk to dawn.
•Some stable yards make use of alarms and even CCTV. Keeping dogs in the stable complex could also be considered, to raise the alarm.
•Visitors to the stable yard should be escorted and restricted in their access to the site.
Tack Room Security
•The tack room should ideally be constructed of brick or concrete block. If it is constructed of wood then it can be reinforced with steel plate or mesh.
•If it does contain windows and sky lights then they should be kept to a minimum and protected with bars and grills.
•Doors and door frames should be reinforced with steel and secured with good quality mortice locks, heavy duty shackle pad locks and heavy duty pad bars.
•Do not mark which door is the entrance to the tack room.
•Saddles and bridles should be locked to their racks.
•Keep key holders to a minimum. If keys are lost get locks changed.
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