BY FRANK FARRAGHER

Householders, school managers and business proprietors have been advised to put in place basic security measures to prevent the theft of home heating oil from storage tanks.

Gardai have reported a number of thefts from tanks over recent months and as fuel prices continue to rise, there are fears of increased activity from the opportunist oil thieves.

Since last October, there have been a number of prosecutions for the oil thefts with more cases in the pipeline over the coming weeks.

A Garda spokesman told the Galway City Tribune that plastic oil tanks offered a low enough level of protection against thievery, because of their plastic make-up.

“Someone with a simple rechargeable drill, can bore a hole in the bottom of one those tanks in a matter of seconds – the tanks themselves offer little protection,” said a Garda spokesman.

However, he advised that householders should try and provide secure fencing around their tanks and keep all access gates bolted and locked, as well as having a sensor light in the area.

“Schools and other premises that close down over the weekend period are often prime target for those thieves. We have a number of convictions for oil thefts with more prosecutions pending,” said the Garda spokesman.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.