by Mel Ralph

Kent police have launched a campaign to stop petrol thefts from station forecourts.

Officers will be visiting petrol stations across the county to build relationships with forecourt managers.

Posters and pump stickers will be distributed to raise awareness of the problem. There will also be a newsletter listing the number plates of cars involved in petrol thefts.

Julie Argent, crime reduction project manager with Kent Police said petrol theft is often linked with other offences such as car theft.

She added: "Occasionally people genuinely forget to pay for petrol, or forget their purse. However, most non-payments are by criminals using stolen vehicles or stolen number plates."

Petrol thefts plummeted by 38 per cent in March when the police did a pilot scheme of the initiative in North Kent. In 2008, statistics show on average 208 petrol thefts took place each month across the county.

Kent Police are launching the scheme with the backing of British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) at the BP service station at Tollgate, Dartford – one of the North Kent pilot participants.

Kevin Eastwood, executive director of BOSS, said: "Drive-offs and No Means of Payment incidents cost the UK Petrol industry costs approximately £30 million every year."