By TANIA PHILLIPS
TWEED/Byron police are working with the region’s service stations to target the increasing number of petrol drive-offs occuring across the area.
The region’s crime manager, Detective Inspector Brendon Cullen told a media conference at the Chinderah BP last week that the number of people driving off from service stations had been on the rise.
“Drivers are filling up ther car and then driving off without paying,” he said.
“Some of them are by accident, but it does take up a lot of police time and affect those people company and businesses.”
He said offenders faced the charge of “obtaining benefit by deception”, a charge that could carry a penalty of up to five years.
Police have been targetting the crime in recent months through an operation known as E-10 which has seen officers conducting high visibility patrols around the areas service stations as well as signage warning of their precence.
Chinderah BP petrol station store manager Debbie Williams said the drive offs were a headache for staff who have to prepare a three-page report for each offence as well as going through and passing on the CCTV footage to police.
“They have been on the increase over the past few years,” she said.
“In the past to months, we have been working very closely with the police and have had the signage outfront.”.
Police last week released CCTV of a man and woman, who investigators believe can assist with their investigation into a petrol drive-off, following a spate of similar incidents over recent months.
The incident occurred on Saturday 7 September at a service station on the Pacific Highway at Chinderah.
The vehicle is described as a dark Kia Sportage.
Inspector Gary Cowan from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command said the incident was just one of many to have occurred in the area this year.
“People committing these offences need to realise they are not simply involving themselves in petty crime, but their actions could land them in jail,” Inspector Cowan said.
“Police are currently working closely with the petrol stations in the area to target the offence.
“We are also appealing for anyone with information about those involved to come forward.”
Call police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/. Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
