Lothian fuel thefts on rise

THE number of fuel thefts from vehicles or tanks has soared, new figures have shown.

Lothian and Borders Police recorded 213 fuel thefts last year compared with just 69 in 2007.

The incidents include the theft of fuel stolen directly from tanks, as well as cases where petrol or diesel was siphoned off from a vehicle.

Last year’s total also showed a substantial rise on the 2010 figure, when 152 fuel thefts were recorded.

In December, 2000 litres of gas worth £1700 was stolen from an external tank at Newlandrig, in Midlothian.