Free petrol for all

[hash tag]

Driving off without paying for fuel is an honest mistake. It is not a crime
BBC News - Petrol drive-offs may not be a crime, police say

Petrol theft: drivers may be having a bad day, police say

Lincolnshire Police says it has "finite resources" to investigate cases and has to prove intent.

www.bbc.com

 

[Silas Loom]

Absolutely agree with the cops here. It would be simple to eliminate this kind of crime, just make people prepay at the kiosk or with a card at the pump. Why don’t the forecourts do that? Presumably to make more money from impulse sales, which more than compensates them for the losses from theft which they want the police to investigate.

 

[lazythursday]

Well as long as me walking out of Tesco forgetting to go to the checkout is viewed similarly I'm completely fine with this.

 

[lazythursday]

Perhaps more to the point, if I forget to buy a train ticket on my phone in the morning before my commute (which believe me, is easily done) I should not be fined £100 either.

There is this phenomenon whereby if you commit a crime (like killing someone, etc, and now it seems theft) while being a driver you are treated far more leniently while in every other sphere of life you are clamped down on. So no, treat it as a crime and do your jobs Lincolnshire Police.

 

[Santino]

If you regularly pay by contactless at a self-checkout till, it is easy to inadvertently walk off with your shopping without even noticing that payment has failed and you have been invited to insert your card.

 

[newme]

If you regularly pay by contactless at a self-checkout till, it is easy to inadvertently walk off with your shopping without even noticing that payment has failed and you have been invited to insert your card.

Especially if it just beeps either way and sounds like it's fine.

 

[Elpenor]

Absolutely agree with the cops here. It would be simple to eliminate this kind of crime, just make people prepay at the kiosk or with a card at the pump. Why don’t the forecourts do that? Presumably to make more money from impulse sales, which more than compensates them for the losses from theft which they want the police to investigate.

They do that in Northern Ireland I think

 

[2hats]

They do that in Northern Ireland I think

Pretty much universal in Italy.

 

[Silas Loom]

Also the US.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Absolutely agree with the cops here. It would be simple to eliminate this kind of crime, just make people prepay at the kiosk or with a card at the pump. Why don’t the forecourts do that? Presumably to make more money from impulse sales, which more than compensates them for the losses from theft which they want the police to investigate.

Exactly, my local unmanned ASDA petrol station takes cards first, but then there's no opportunity for impulse sales.

 

[MickiQ]

Absolutely agree with the cops here. It would be simple to eliminate this kind of crime, just make people prepay at the kiosk or with a card at the pump. Why don’t the forecourts do that? Presumably to make more money from impulse sales, which more than compensates them for the losses from theft which they want the police to investigate.

Absolutely this

 

[Sasaferrato]

I am seeing more and more pumps where you put your card in and authorise a maximum amount before the pump will start.

The first petrol station over the French/Belgian border, you have to go in and pay before you get your fuel, if you overpay they refund the difference.

On a complete aside, years ago in a filling station in Belgium I paid in Sterling and got my change in Deutschmarks. They dealt in Sterling, French Francs, Belgian Francs, Deutschmarks and Guilders.

 

[hash tag]

Well as long as me walking out of Tesco forgetting to go to the checkout is viewed similarly I'm completely fine with this.

I thought no store or law enforcement person would do anything if your haul was under a certain limit, possibly £100?

I remember in France years ago have to pay buy card first before getting petrol and I had the wrong type of card. There was no way of paying by cash.

 

[hash tag]

Another way to help prevent petrol theft is by using number plate recognition. If a cars plate is flagged as having previously driven off without paying for petrol the pump is not activated.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I thought no store or law enforcement person would do anything if your haul was under a certain limit, possibly £100?

It was/is £200.

 

[hash tag]

It was/is £200.

Thats affluent Worthing for you.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Thats affluent Worthing for you.

It came up on one of those real life programmes, looking at how private security firms deal with shoplifting, and the point at which they will consider calling the police, it focused on, IIRC, three areas - two shopping centres, one in Birmingham and one in the London area, plus a town centre down in the west country, the £200 limit applied in each area.

 

[T & P]

It came up on one of those real life programmes, looking at how private security firms deal with shoplifting, and the point at which they will consider calling the police, it focused on, IIRC, three areas - two shopping centres, one in Birmingham and one in the London area, plus a town centre down in the west country, the £200 limit applied in each area.

I shall never pay for a bottle of whisky again

 

[hash tag]

I shall never pay for a bottle of whisky again

Finest single malt.
Champagne for Christmas?

 

[moochedit]

Absolutely agree with the cops here. It would be simple to eliminate this kind of crime, just make people prepay at the kiosk or with a card at the pump. Why don’t the forecourts do that? Presumably to make more money from impulse sales, which more than compensates them for the losses from theft which they want the police to investigate.

I think in the usa they do often have to pay in advance. Not sure why they are more trusting here.