Sheriff's Office Offers Fuel Theft Prevention Tips

PHOTO: Marion County Sherrif's Office

(Salem, Oregon) - Many of the farms in Marion County have been operating for years as family businesses. Their ability to make a living from the land is directly impacted by their ability to control the cost of farming. Equipment repairs, fertilizers and fuel are among their biggest expenses.

According to the Government's Consumer Price Index, fuel costs have risen about 14.3 percent in the past three months. As fuel prices rise, fuel thefts also increase. In this economy, gasoline and diesel are in high demand.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office would like to suggest some preventative steps you can take to avoid becoming a fuel theft victim.

A high-quality lock should be installed on every fuel storage tank.

If you use diesel that is dyed red to exempt it from highway taxes, be sure to mark your storage tanks accordingly. It may help deter some thieves as they have difficulty selling red diesel to anyone intending to use it on the highway. Fines for red-diesel use on the highway are significant.

Remove gas credit cards from your farm vehicles, and take time to install a locking gas cap. Never write or leave your gas card PIN where a thief may find and use it.

Park your equipment in an area where gas thieves can be seen, and consider installing motion-sensing lighting to reduce your chances of becoming a victim. Motion detectors are more effective because they create a change the environment when the thief arrives at the scene. Suspects are less comfortable when they feel they've been detected. They are more likely to flee when that occurs.

Keep a keen eye on your own equipment and fuel tanks, and be a good neighbor by watching out for the equipment of others as well. Call 911 if you see suspicious activity.

News Release from: Marion Co. Sheriff's Office