£800 bill for firm after lorries' fuel is siphoned

More than £800 worth of diesel has been siphoned from lorries at a haulage firm in the fifth raid at the Black Country business in about six months.

Now bosses at Willenhall-based RK Transport Services are taking action to step up security.

They have announced plans to apply to the council for permission to erect a three-metre fence, which they hope will stop thieves scaling a nearby wall to get into the Temple Bar site. Manager Dave Barlow said diesel had been stolen from four lorries in the latest string of thefts.

The firm, which has been running for more than 25 years, was targeted less than two weeks before when over 800 litres of diesel, worth more than £1,000, was siphoned from vehicles.

Mr Barlow said: "The more the price of fuel goes up, the more they are stealing from us. This had been going on for more than 10 years."

He said the thefts had started with small amounts of fuel years ago but "considerable" amounts had recently been taken.

Bosses say they are now working on taking further steps to try and tighten security after Mr Barlow said each theft could be putting the future of the business in jeopardy. It's a struggle every day," he added. "It can wipe out your profits each day."

He said thieves had been getting into the site by jumping over a wall.

He added: "They have come across a wall which stands between us and the church. We want to apply for planning permission to put a three-metre fence there."

He said the latest theft was discovered by one of the firm's drivers who turned up to work last Wednesday morning. Police are investigating the incident and are appealing to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious to call the non-emergency police number, 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.