1:20pm Wednesday 10th March 2010
By Ben Parsons, Crime Reporter
Fuel thieves are touring the Sussex countryside to steal diesel from farms.
Police have received reports from areas near Horsham, Steyning, Billingshurst and Henfield so far this week.
Two men carrying empty cans and piping were spotted at a farm in Barns Green shortly after midnight yesterday. They were challenged and ran away.
Later that morning fuel was discovered to have been stolen from a Ford Transit van in Hyde Street, Upper Beeding.
Over the weekend three lorries were emptied of petrol in Goose Green Lane, Goose Green, near Pulborough.
Several vehicles were also targeted for fuel in Station Road, Henfield. The crimes were reported on Tuesday morning.
The thefts follow similar reports of fuel being siphoned from horseboxes in Northlands Road, Warnham, on Sunday, and Locks Green, Newtimber, near Hassocks, last Thursday.
A warning on Sussex Police’s Farmwatch website said: “The fuel thieves are about, please review your security and consider where the safest location is to park your vehicles.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.
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