For 25 years, Martin Pedersen has run a business in the Kuröd industrial area in Uddevalla, diesel theft has been a problem for just as long.
During the summer, he has been greeted on six occasions, something that Bohusläningen was the first to tell. At four of them, they have hosed up five cars, which means that hundreds of liters of diesel have been stolen.
– It creates problems in several other ways. It’s the driver who can’t get away in the morning and all the extra work, he says.
They have previously tried to keep the thieves away with locks on the tank lids and also built protection around the tank itself. But it has not protected diesel, on the contrary.
– The more protection we have, the more they destroy. And that means even greater costs for me.
Surveillance cameras around the courtyard
Ten surveillance cameras are now around the property, now he will put up a fence with a gate and powerful lights. But he is doubtful that it will help.
– My neighbors have been greeted by thieves despite the fence. So at best I can delay them so the police can get there. It seems the only thing stopping them is the police.
Difficult to investigate
Few diesel thieves are caught and convicted. The dark figure on exactly how much diesel is stolen is large. Many business owners, like Martin Pedersen, have given up and far from all thefts are reported to the police.
It is something that makes the police’s work more difficult, says local police area manager Martin Öhman in Uddevalla.
– We are completely dependent on tips and reports to be able to prioritize correctly. We are not designed to be above everything, all the time. That is why it is important to report crimes, he says.