ROCKETING prices have led to an increase in the number of thefts of fuel in South Yorkshire.
Between January and June the number of offences of thefts from vehicles and private premises other than garages was up by 46 to 444 compared to the same period the year before.
Figures released by the force show that thefts from petrol stations ha
ve dropped over the same period, with 218 fewer offences reported than last year.
A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "The number of offences of making off without payment has fallen by 218 in January to June 2008 compared with the same period the last year.
"This is due to work done by South Yorkshire Police with petrol stations to improve security.
"There has been a slight increase this year compared with the previous year in the number of thefts of fuel offences and this has mostly been in depots that contain a number of vehicles, usually lorries.
"This increase can be linked to the rise in cost of fuel.
"South Yorkshire Police is now working with depots and yards to improve security and reduce the number of thefts from their sites."
Earlier this year The Star revealed South Yorkshire Police's bill for fuelling its cars and helicopter had soared.
Last week bosses made an extra £500,000 available from its contingencies budget to meet the increased cost.
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FeaturesMore Rotherham newsMore Doncaster newsMore Barnsley newsCheck out the very latest on South Yorkshire's roads - including live traffic cameras on Sheffield's commuter routes - with our Traffic sectionLatest sport. The full article contains 276 words and appears in Doncaster Star newspaper.
