Police are requesting those working and living in rural areas to remain vigilant following fuel thefts from rural North East locations.

At one site just off the A940, south of Forres, up to 1000 litres of heating oil was stolen from a fuel tank. The theft occurred between 9:00 am on 28th February and 9:00 pm on 3rd March 2023.

A further theft took place from a rural site near Deskford, Cullen. Between 4:00 pm on 27th February and 3:00 pm on 28th February 2023, diesel worth £1000 was stolen from a tank along with some tools.

Anyone with information can contact the Police on 101 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 1234 of 07/03/2023 and 1931 of 28/02/2023.

North East Division Crime Reduction Officer Constable Russell said, ‘If working in remote areas, ensure all tools and fuel are locked away out of sight in secure storage units. Ensure all doors are of solid construction with suitable locks or a closed shackle padlock fitted. Consider using CCTV or even 4G CCTV cameras to monitor remote sites and be alerted to any intruders. Several devices are now on the market to reduce such crimes, such as anti-siphoning devices and fuel tank alarms. Check tank levels regularly and report any suspicious activity to the Police.’