RISING DRIVE-OFF REPORTS FORCE FORECOURT CRIME INDEX UP IN Q2
Incidents of unpaid fuel increased by 2.6% between April and June 2024 (Q2 2024) according to the latest Forecourt Crime Index from BOSS, the British Oil Security Syndicate. While No Means of Payment incidents have fallen, the Forecourt Crime Index has been pushed upwards due to a jump in Drive-Off reports.
During Q2 2024 unpaid fuel incident reports rose 2.6% higher than unpaid fuel reports in Q1 2024, leading the Forecourt Crime Index increase to 238.3 (232.3: Q1 2024).
Incidents of No Means of Payment (NMoP) were 4.1% lower than in the previous quarter, continuing the decline of recent months, while Drive-Off-Failure-to-Pay (DOFP) reports saw their largest rise in 12 months, jumping 12.8% higher than in Q1.
The average number of unpaid fuel incident reports per site increased by 2.4% to 28.8 per site (28.1 per site: Q1 2024) with NMoP incidents accounting for 56.4% of unpaid fuel reports being made to Payment Watch.
The average cost of NMoP incidents increased by 3.7% to £69.89 (£67.40: Q1 2024), while the average cost of a DOFP incident eased to £49.76 per incident (£50.12 per incident: Q1 2024).
The uplift in the Forecourt Crime Index occurred during a period of rising fuel prices with the average cost of unleaded petrol increased to 147.8 pence per litre (ppl), compared to 141.3 ppl in Q1 2024.
The average litres drawn in an NMoP incident increased to 44.88 (43.52 litres: Q1 2024). Litres of fuel taken in DOFP incidents eased to an average of 32.2 litres per incident (33.41 litres: Q4 2023).
Claire Nichol, executive director at BOSS, said: ” This rise in unpaid fuel reports is primarily driven by a significant increase in drive-off incidents, where motorists intentionally leave petrol stations without paying for fuel.
“Economic pressures, including rising fuel prices and cost-of-living challenges, are contributing factors, leading some individuals to resort to fuel theft. Additionally, the ease of committing drive-offs, particularly in busy forecourt environments with limited surveillance, has exacerbated the problem. The report highlights the need for improved security measures to deter such crimes and protect businesses from further losses.
“Forecourts can take steps to prevent unpaid fuel incidents by increasing staff vigilance, and ensuring that surveillance systems are fully operational can also reduce fuel theft occurrences.”
Forecourt crime reduction guides that help forecourt retailers reduce incidents and keep forecourts safe places to work and shop are available from BOSS.
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