Overview

• Forecourt owners made 66,378 requests for keeper data on suspected drive-off incidents between February and April, a 49% increase from last year
• The RAC Foundation attributes the rise to repeat offenders who believe overstretched police forces are unlikely to pursue non-payment cases
• A trade investigation found that £6.6 million of fuel was stolen through drive-away thefts from 2019 to 2024, highlighting sustained losses
• Major retailers and independent forecourts are installing enhanced surveillance systems and pay-at-pump terminals to reduce unpaid refuels
• The Petrol Retailers Association warns that rising drive-offs strain family-run stations and risk pushing up prices for law-abiding motorists