headline

Fuel thief on the run after stealing nearly $3000 worth of diesel

A man is on the run after stealing thousands of dollars worth of fuel from a family-owned petrol station in Sydney's south.

The fuel thief was spotted on CCTV filling several jerry cans with up to 600 litres of diesel on Saturday without paying the $2874 bill he racked up at a Budget petrol station in Mascot.

The man actually spoke to the attendant before filling up, and almost ran him over as he allegedly fled.

AS IT HAPPENED: Albanese makes big fuel deal with tiny Asian nation

The man drove off after filling several jerry cans with 600 litres of diesel.

The cashier chased the man down Baxter Road before the driver hit a dead end.

He almost struck the attendant when he turned back down the street as the cashier was filming what was happening.

The man was able to get away and a scan of the number plates revealed the car was allegedly stolen.

"It's criminal what he's done, it's very disappointing to our business," Budget Petrol operations manager Diann Melas said.

READ MORE: Councils, RACQ oppose age, speed e-bike restrictions in Queensland

The man actually entered the service station and spoke to the attendant before the alleged theft.

"Every store is an independent family-owned business, and running off with $3000 worth of fuel comes out of our expenses."

As the fuel crisis continues, with prices skyrocketing and supply being stretched, thefts have soared by up to 50 per cent, according to the Australian Association of Convenience Stores.

It's not just in cities where brazen thefts are occurring, with a man in rural Queensland being charged with stealing 1000 litres of diesel from a nearby property.

Police allege that sometime between April 1 and April 3, the 59-year-old drove his 2006 Holden Crewman ute into a property on Texas Yelarbon Road in Yelarbon, four hours west of the Gold Coast.

There, he allegedly siphoned fuel from a storage unit into an intermediate bulk container on the back of his vehicle and drove off with it.

FUEL CRISIS: Virgin to cut flights, raise costs after $40 million fuel hit

Following investigations by local police, with help from the local community, the Yelarbon man and the ute were found on a property along the Cunningham Highway on Monday.

He has been charged with one count of stealing and is due to appear in the Goondiwindi Magistrates Court on April 22.

With the price of diesel continuing to soar well past $3 a litre, farmers are being encouraged to take steps to help prevent thefts, including securing their fuel supplies, installing and signposting security cameras and storing fuel out of direct sight from the road.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.