Petrol thefts across the UK have skyrocketed by 62% compared to last year, with forecourt owners reporting drive-offs are now costing them thousands of pounds weekly. New data reveals this alarming surge coincides with fuel price increases triggered by the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran.
"There just seems to be a sort of public acceptance now that theft is okay," said Josh, a petrol retailer with five garages in southern England who requested anonymity due to staff facing abuse. "I'm sure there is a percentage of people that are doing it out of desperation, but the large majority is organized, pre-planned."
According to fuel theft recovery company Pay My Fuel, the average forecourt now experiences 3.4 drive-offs weekly, up from 2.1 in March 2025. The average stolen amount has also jumped 46% to £67 per incident. The company's director, Ian Wolfenden, noted the problem is three to four times worse in less affluent areas, particularly in east and southeast London, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, and Birmingham.
Since the conflict began, filling a typical family car with petrol has increased by £14, while diesel costs have risen by approximately £27 per tank. Gordon Balmer, executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association, confirmed these price hikes have led to a "noticeable increase" in fuel theft, with some incidents involving organized crime while others involve individuals claiming to have forgotten payment methods.
Superintendent Lisa Maslen, head of the National Business Crime Centre, stated fuel theft "continues to place a significant and unacceptable strain on fuel retailers, impacting businesses financially and placing additional demand on policing resources." Police forces are implementing proactive measures to identify offenders and disrupt repeat behavior.
Meanwhile, petrol station staff face escalating abuse from frustrated customers. Josh reported his employees have been called thieves and subjected to intimidating shouting matches. This hostility has been exacerbated by government accusations of price gouging, which retailers describe as "inflammatory language" that misrepresents their slim profit margins—more than half of pump prices consist of government taxes.
A government spokesperson emphasized: "Fuel theft undermines businesses and their workers. These thieves must face the full force of the law." They encouraged witnesses to report such crimes to police immediately.