Petrol theft is not a crime

[MarshPhantom]

Scuffers said:

MarshPhantom said:

Garages have done precisely nothing to prevent this.

Shops go to huge lengths to prevent crime, security tagging, security staff etc.

so, none of them have numberplate cameras?

what do you expect them to do? turn your local corner station into Fort Knox?

Pre payment???

[Scuffers]

MarshPhantom said:

Pre payment???

credit card fraud?

at what point do want them to be like some are in the US where some cashier is sat in an armoured box behind bullet proof glass?

[MarshPhantom]

Scuffers said:

MarshPhantom said:

Pre payment???

credit card fraud?

at what point do want them to be like some are in the US where some cashier is sat in an armoured box behind bullet proof glass?

This thread about theft of petrol, nothing else. If the garages want to stop this they can very easily.

[Jasandjules]

MarshPhantom said:

Garages have done precisely nothing to prevent this.

Shops go to huge lengths to prevent crime, security tagging, security staff etc.

It is the responsibility of the state to protect us - that is the price they pay for requiring us NOT to defend ourselves and take revenge on those who wrong us ourselves.

[JensenA]

MarshPhantom said:

You do in a lot of countries.

Theft is theft, but if garages have a problem shouldn't it be down to them to sort it out? Shops that have problems employ security guards, why should garages rely on the Police.

So if your house is burgled, you'll be quite philosophical about it, and not report it to the police, as it's your fault for not fitting a burglar alarm.

[Scuffers]

MarshPhantom said:

This thread about theft of petrol, nothing else. If the garages want to stop this they can very easily.

I'm talking about petrol stations, your whole view is the police are not there to tackle crime..

tell you what, if it so easy, you could earn a fortune telling them the error of their ways.

[MarshPhantom]

JensenA said:

MarshPhantom said:

You do in a lot of countries.

Theft is theft, but if garages have a problem shouldn't it be down to them to sort it out? Shops that have problems employ security guards, why should garages rely on the Police.

So if your house is burgled, you'll be quite philosophical about it, and not report it to the police, as it's your fault for not fitting a burglar alarm.

An alarm may not have stopped the burglary - pre payment for fuel would end driveaways overnight.

It really isn't that difficult to understand is it?

[MarshPhantom]

Scuffers said:

MarshPhantom said:

This thread about theft of petrol, nothing else. If the garages want to stop this they can very easily.

I'm talking about petrol stations, your whole view is the police are not there to tackle crime..

tell you what, if it so easy, you could earn a fortune telling them the error of their ways.

fking hell, I give up. Pay for the petrol before you fill up, end of problem.

I shall leave you to it.

[JensenA]

MarshPhantom said:

JensenA said:

MarshPhantom said:

You do in a lot of countries.

Theft is theft, but if garages have a problem shouldn't it be down to them to sort it out? Shops that have problems employ security guards, why should garages rely on the Police.

So if your house is burgled, you'll be quite philosophical about it, and not report it to the police, as it's your fault for not fitting a burglar alarm.

An alarm may not have stopped the burglary - pre payment for fuel would end driveaways overnight.

It really isn't that difficult to understand is it?

It obviously is for you.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Although the police policy is disgraceful and unjustified, it would be fairly easy to use controlled entry/exit to forecourt or individual pumps.
If someone then crashes a barrier to escape without paying, there is no question of intent being an issue!

[Impasse]

MarshPhantom said:

An alarm may not have stopped the burglary - pre payment for fuel would end driveaways overnight.

It really isn't that difficult to understand is it?

It won't end it. It may cause the numbers to plateau or drop for a while, then the fuel will be stolen via credit card fraud or similar. Possibly using cards or details gathered from burglaries.

[turbobloke]

elster said:

Ah Devon & Cornwall. They have just had it quite easy for many years with massive numbers of police with very little crime and more police per head than almost every other area.

They have just decided not to bother going after criminals now instead of working like the rest of the country.

The idea that budget cuts require front line service reductions is totally false.

Those braidy bosses thinking up this dereliction of duty 'policy' should first of all implement a 10% minimum pay and pension cut on their own remuneration package, applicable also to any other force not reducing costs from shinypants as a first response. The front line service reduction is basically a political ploy, an attempt to make funding changes visible and embarrass the government in order influence spending policy. The police are not there to influence government spending policy beyond the single vote any eligible person has at an election.

If the 10% salary and pension cut isn't sufficient to cope with budget changes then any police manager implementing dereliction of duty as a so-called policy should be sacked and not replaced. Front line officers and their ability to work should be proteted.

MarshPhantom said:

Is it the police's job to protect the profits of big business?

MarshPhantom said:

The police can't tackle all crime and have to prioritize, so should they spend their days chasing people who haven't paid at the petrol station.

As above, reduce pay and/or numbers of desk jockeys first before cutting any front line service.

[AMD87]

Sounds like a good plan from the police. Say they won't chase it up so more people steal fuel which then means less money for the government on tax so they government will then tell them to police it more and give them the money back.

[turbobloke]

Mr GrimNasty said:

Although the police policy is disgraceful and unjustified, it would be fairly easy to use controlled entry/exit to forecourt or individual pumps.

Yes that, or use pre-payment.

[9mm]

Negative Creep said:

9mm said:

Scuffers said:

MarshPhantom said:

You do in a lot of countries.

Theft is theft, but if garages have a problem shouldn't it be down to them to sort it out? Shops that have problems employ security guards, why should garages rely on the Police.

why do we have police then?

Lots of reasons but I'll start with 'protecting citizens' and 'preventing and detecting serious crime'.

I'd put acting as enforcers for big businesses some way down the list of priorities. So, I'd far rather see Police prioritising domestic burglaries over arresting shopllifters or people making off without paying for petrol.

Retailers moaning winds me up in the same way land owners sometimes moan about parking on their land. Often the solution is a one time investment. E.g pay at pump or a gate.

Do you not feel that those committing crimes against both homeowners and big business are likely to be the same individuals? Therefore if they are arrested and prosecuted for stealing from a shop that can help prevent them from stealing from a neighbour. Also if a big business loses money it won't be CEO crying himself to sleep, it will be those on minimum wage behind the till because they've been made redundant

They may well be. I'm simply responding to the oft heard Police claim that they are inadequately resourced. If that's true, then I'd like to see some prioritisation in the way I've described. I'm sceptical that big business can't do more to protect their assets.

[RYH64E]

MarshPhantom said:

stuttgartmetal said:

You don't order a beer, and pay after you've drunk it.

You do in a lot of countries.

You do in many UK pubs, at least the ones I (occasionally) drink in. I pretty much always run a tab and settle at the end.

[turbobloke]

9mm said:

I'm sceptical that big business can't do more to protect their assets.

In this type of case they could and possibly should, with some inconvenience to customers in terms of changes to the process of buying forecourt fuel.

[pingu393]

Scuffers said:

so you don't subscribe to the petty crime leads to serious criminality view then?

I really resent the view that paying money for a technical solution to a social problem is the answer

Do you lock your doors, or do you rely on good social attitudes to protect you?

[mph1977]

R1 Indy said:

<snip>

Pay before you fill could actually bring the cost of fuel down, but it will never happen as people don't like change!

except of course in the supermarket filling stations ... however the rise of p@p using credit / debit / bunker cards may have an impact on those without access to a debit card

[9mm]

Scuffers said:

9mm said:

Lots of reasons but I'll start with 'protecting citizens' and 'preventing and detecting serious crime'.

I'd put acting as enforcers for big businesses some way down the list of priorities. So, I'd far rather see Police prioritising domestic burglaries over arresting shopllifters or people making off without paying for petrol.

Retailers moaning winds me up in the same way land owners sometimes moan about parking on their land. Often the solution is a one time investment. E.g pay at pump or a gate.

so you don't subscribe to the petty crime leads to serious criminality view then?

I really resent the view that paying money for a technical solution to a social problem is the answer

I'm not sure the broken windows theory has been proven but in any event, as I said in another reply, if the Police say they don't have the resources to deal with every crime, they will have to decide which ones they will deal with.

I'm equally unconvinced crime can ever be eliminated, so I consider it only prudent that shopkeepers or landowners (for example) make investments to protect their assets. For these reasons I have window and door locks and a burglar alarm.

Edited by 9mm on Sunday 31st May 12:55