One a day fails to pay for fuel

NEARLY one person a day drove off without paying for a fuel at a petrol station in Lothian and Borders, new figures have shown.

Police recorded 327 incidents of motorists failing to pay for petrol at stations in the force area between October 1, 2010, and September 30 last year.

Officers have so far arrested and charged offenders for 26 per cent of the petrol thefts reported to them, according to police figures.

The force said that the total amount of fuel stolen by the thieves over the course of the year had a value of around £17,515.