Thieves in Sussex are “actively targeting” fuel tanks as the price of petrol continues to soar.

Fuel crime is now “big business”

according to recent victims who have been forced to shell out thousands of pounds to pay for the damage done.

Chief Inspector Dick Coates of Sussex police said criminals are targeting farms, transport depots and homes across the county and siphoning the fuel from tanks.

One company chief said he may now have to lay off staff after he was targeted by thieves.

About 2,000 litres of diesel was taken from a lorry at a waste management depot in Uckfield last week.

The fuel was only worth about £300 but because the criminals dismantled the lorry’s diesel tank and stole that as well, he will now have to pay up to £7,000.

Steve Hoad, the owner of Hydro- Cleansing Ltd, which has depots in Uckfield and Chichester, said the incident on Tuesday morning was the second time he has been targeted in the last two months.

He said six jobs at the Uckfield depot in Belmont Road are now at risk.

He said: “The diesel was taken out and so was the whole tank.

“It was dismantled and the whole shebang was taken – that’s about £300 worth of diesel but has left me with a huge bill.

“I have had to order a new tank from France all for the sake of £300 of fuel.

“All that someone has done is put jobs on the line because I’m not sure I can take that kind of hit.”

Police are now appealing for anyone with information about the incident.

Chief Insp Coates said: “Theft of heating and diesel oil has been a problem across Britain for many years and we see an increase in this type of crime whenever the price of crude oil rises.

“A rise in the price of fuel inevitably leads to a rise in the cost of heating oil.

This makes oil a more attractive proposition for theives and they are now targeting tanks at farms, transport depots and domestic properties.

“The thieves may be using the oil for their own central heating or selling it on at a handsome profit.”

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call 0845 6070999, quoting serial 0160 of March 15.