Fuel theft

[Crankarm]

Why not have blocks/bollards that come up from the ground around a vehicle when the pump is activated and fuel starts flowing? Then if this were side stepped failed then a stinger deploys when that vehicle leaves that pump or bay of pumps without having paid?

It would be fairly easy to see if it was ok to drive away when returning to your vehicle, the bollards stinger would be down.

About 5 years ago, some scrote pulled up the other side of the pump in a battered up Ford Escort, opened the boot in which were 4 huge empty white plastic tanks which he filled plus the car tank bringing the total to £127. The garage had cameras, but when I told the cashier I got the reg and a good look at the guy before he sped away without paying, he told me not to bother as it was the third drive off that day 1) the cameras were fake 2) Shell weren't interested in security and 3) neither were the police in catching them. He was dead right on number 3) despite the car heading off at high speed toward the A14 one of the most dangerous roads I know for heavy traffic, crashes and fatalities. Still didn't get any discount off the cost of my fuel for trying to help.

 

[Maz]

Do they just cut the pipe before and after and have it away? Not heard of that before and it's very cheeky!

Yes, that's what they do.

 

[CopperBrompton]

If it speeds up the rollout of pay-at-pump, I shall be very happy - saves a lot of time.

 

[Piemaster]

Local supermarket uses a numberplate recognition system. Therre is a monitor displaying cars & plates behind the counter to demonstrate it. and act as a deterrant.

My mother had the number plates stolen from her car a few years ago - obviously for nefarious purposes, such as fuel theft.
So if your car plates disappear best to report to police as soon as possible.

 

[PBancroft]

I forgot to pay once. When I'm going on a long journey I always fill up and get a bottle to drink for the trip when I pay. I only realised I hadn't paid when an hour or so later I reached over for my drink on the passenger seat and it wasn't there.

Luckily the station was quite understanding and didn't report me as they recognised me. I would have been a bit pi$$ed off to have a damaged car from spikes or bollards for a bit of absent-mindedness - not saying it wouldn't be my own fault, but I'd still be annoyed.

 

[XmisterIS]

Why not have blocks/bollards that come up from the ground around a vehicle when the pump is activated and fuel starts flowing? Then if this were side stepped failed then a stinger deploys when that vehicle leaves that pump or bay of pumps without having paid?

It would be fairly easy to see if it was ok to drive away when returning to your vehicle, the bollards stinger would be down.

That's a great idea, but a couple of possible drawbacks; (1) I fear it would be expensive and (2) motorbikes can fit between bollards!

 

[Crankarm]

I forgot to pay once. When I'm going on a long journey I always fill up and get a bottle to drink for the trip when I pay. I only realised I hadn't paid when an hour or so later I reached over for my drink on the passenger seat and it wasn't there.

Luckily the station was quite understanding and didn't report me as they recognised me. I would have been a bit pi$$ed off to have a damaged car from spikes or bollards for a bit of absent-mindedness - not saying it wouldn't be my own fault, but I'd still be annoyed.

If you can't notice as you are filling up - warning signs which will inevitably be present, a few heavy duty highly visible bollards in front of your car and that a stinger could be activated if you bilk, then are you a sufficiently observant person to be driving or do you need your eye sight checked?

 

[Crankarm]

That's a great idea, but a couple of possible drawbacks; (1) I fear it would be expensive and (2) motorbikes can fit between bollards!

I'm sure a solution could be sought for motorcycling bilkers.

 

[XmisterIS]

Do you remember a while back that they had "pay at pump" options at some service stations?

These seem to have disappeared - shame! They were a perfect solution - it wouldn't dispense fuel until you had given it your card - then it would charge you for the amount you'd used.

It never ceased to amaze me though that the general public would still form a long queue to pay at kiosk - while I whizzed in on my bike, used pay at pump, and whizzed off again while the rest of them were still queueing!

 

[Crankarm]

Do you remember a while back that they had "pay at pump" options at some service stations?

These seem to have disappeared - shame! They were a perfect solution - it wouldn't dispense fuel until you had given it your card - then it would charge you for the amount you'd used.

It never ceased to amaze me though that the general public would still form a long queue to pay at kiosk - while I whizzed in on my bike, used pay at pump, and whizzed off again while the rest of them were still queueing!

I think stolen or fake credit/bank cards plus the risk of the machine with all the money in being stolen was too much trouble to deal with. And as some one else pointed out they want to get you into the shop to buy seriously unhealthy food and tat which can't be done with a pre-payment machine at pump. I got ripped off a few times in France a few years ago when late at night I used these automats and fuel didn't come out or only 80% of it did.

 

[Fnaar]

Do you remember a while back that they had "pay at pump" options at some service stations?

We've still got one of those

 

[PBancroft]

If you can't notice as you are filling up - warning signs which will inevitably be present, a few heavy duty highly visible bollards in front of your car and that a stinger could be activated if you bilk, then are you a sufficiently observant person to be driving or do you need your eye sight checked?

You're hypothesising about the visibility of something which doesn't exist, but in your example I'm not saying I wouldn't notice them. When I did leave without paying I saw the shop, the pumps, the sign telling me thieves will be prosecuted but I still got in my car... it was just an automatic action thing (and a far cry from not paying attention on the road before someone jumps on that). I simply forgot. Now of course someone as perfect as your good self would have never have left the house and get halfway down the road only to think: "did I lock the door?" or make a round of tea and coffee at work and forget to put sugar in for someone who usually has it. Us mere mortals, however, occasionally make mistakes.

Of course this is more serious mistake than forgetting to put sugar in Sally's drink and putting it in Mike's instead. But to me as a honest person making a genuine error if I drove off without paying in the above example the punishment of either the station waiting until the next time I came in to pay (as happened) or even Plod knocking on my door to give me a slapped wrist would be a bit more reasonable to burst tyres, damaged rims, and hundreds of pounds worth of damage to bodywork.

 

[PBancroft]

You're hypothesising about the visibility of something which doesn't exist, but in your example I'm not saying I wouldn't notice them.

We may also be imagining a different set of hypothetical situations as to how these theoretical bollards and spikes would work.

 

[Norm]

Do you remember a while back that they had "pay at pump" options at some service stations?

There are still plenty around.

My problem with them is that the maximum limit was set several years ago at £70, and has never been changed. ** My cars cost closer to £100 to fill up and I can't be arsed to do it any more than is necessary.


** Or at least, it hadn't last time I used them.

 

[Plax]

There are still plenty around.

My problem with them is that the maximum limit was set several years ago at £70, and has never been changed. ** My cars cost closer to £100 to fill up and I can't be arsed to do it any more than is necessary.


** Or at least, it hadn't last time I used them.

They have them here in tesco and ASDA. The latter being exclusively all pay at the pump, with no attendant / kiosk. The limit was £60. So it must be up to the supplier what limit they want to set.