Service station owners across Victoria are fed up with petrol thieves robbing their businesses of hundreds of dollars a week.
The Australasian Association of Convenience Stores last week welcomed support from Victorian opposition police spokesman Wade Noonan, who called on the Victorian government to take the crime of petrol theft seriously.
Association chief executive Jeff Rogut said Victorian members were being made to pursue petrol thieves via civil actions, which he said undermined the criminal nature of petrol theft.
“Despite the inroads we made in 2013, including a forum with retailers and Victoria Police, regrettably the response to petrol theft remains inadequate while the incidence of this crime continues to spiral,” Mr Rogut said.
Bacchus Marsh’s APCO Service Stations outlet director Peter Anderson said the issue was “ridiculous”.
He said every Victorian was essentially being robbed as a result of the crime.
“It’s a massive issue and it’s just leading to other crimes,” Mr Anderson said.
“We want to see $500 on-the-spot fines for a drive-off when the number plate matches the car,” he said.
“And when someone puts a stolen number plate on a car we want to see that car seized.”
Police across Melton have addressed number plate theft as a major crime and continue to organise “safe plate” days, with another coming up on August 23 at Lakeside Hyundai.
Police encourage motorists to have their plates
safely screwed on to avoid falling victim to the crime.
One-way, anti-theft screws are available from police stations.
