Family-run petrol stations are having to resort to bailiffs to recover just a fraction of the fuel stolen from the station, worth “thousands and thousands of pounds”.
Over the past five years, drivers have regularly filled up at the pumps and driven away without paying in large numbers.
The crime, known in some areas as “bilking,” is far from a new crime, but has been steadily increasing across the country since the pandemic and the “onset” of the cost of living crisis.
And Kent is not immune to the fuel shortage epidemic.
Last year, the police received 971 reports of people who did not pay at the petrol pumps in the district.
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There were 1,116 in 2022 and 752 the year before – although companies and industry experts say the actual number is likely far higher because not all incidents are reported.
Even more worrying is that very few cases ever end with a suspect being successfully identified or prosecuted, and much of the money is never recovered.
An information request sent to county police by KentOnline found that about 80% of drive-off cases last year ended without anyone being brought to justice. This is an increase from last year when it was only 70%.
Of 971 cases last year, a suspect was charged or cited for a crime in only 26 cases (2.67%).
While there is little understanding of big oil companies cutting into their profits, it is often the independent traders who are left behind.
And some depleted fuel companies are having to take matters into their own hands to recoup some of their debt.
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Despite the green glow of the forecourt and the BP logo, Parkfoot in London Road, West Malling is a family-run, independent petrol station and loss of income can have devastating consequences for its staff.
A supervisor at the workshop, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “When BP published all its earnings for the year there was a wave of people on TikTok saying go in and pay whatever you want because they had enough in tax earn.”
“We’ve had people come and say I’ve put 60 pounds on the tank, but here’s 40 pounds because there’s tax on that.
“Parkfoot sells BP fuel which they buy from the company, meaning any petrol taken away is a direct loss to the garage and not the company.”
“It’s so hard to explain to people with the mindset of, ‘It says BP, so it must be BP,’ but it says BP because we want to sell quality fuel, but at this point it’s our fuel.”
“Any loss comes directly from us, not from them.”
The employee also explained that the problem was even bigger than the police numbers showed.
They added: “Since the cost of living crisis began, the number of scams and petrol thefts has skyrocketed.
“Sometimes we can lose up to 300 pounds a week, sometimes more.
“It varies and is a huge problem. Because we are a private company, the amount of money we lose from this is completely unrealistic, it is thousands and thousands.”
When police investigate thefts, the investigation is said to take up a large proportion of police resources and officers have to watch hours of CCTV footage.
The West Malling garage has now taken matters into its own hands, paying for an ANPR service from a company which will take number plates as you enter the forecourt and alert staff at the checkout if it is a known petrol thief.
It also hires a bailiff company to enforce the amounts owed and takes people to a small claims court instead of going to the police.
This means that while almost 1,000 cases are recorded annually, the number could be much higher.
The boss added: “We now use a separate company called VARS which is a bailiff company. We refer all of our default cases to them, which allows us to get some of the money back for a fee.
“We don’t like it because it ruins the customer experience when one of the customers has had a bad day and left their wallet at home and five minutes later has to pay again, which they will find out two weeks later.” a letter in the mail, explaining the missed payment.
“When people come back they are angry and we don’t want that.
“It is very difficult for us to deduct the additional charges, but now it is getting to the point where you have to tell people that you are the culprit even if it was an accident.
“We love providing an experience for the community and are here for them. We don’t like the fact that these letters are being sent out at all.”
“The amount of money we invest in technology to keep track of people is just not good.”
“You spend countless amounts installing new ANPR cameras, which means a small company like ours has to increase their prices.
“They’re going up anyway. People aren’t happy about it, but if people don’t pay we’re in trouble and could lead to people losing their jobs at some point.”
Even if the bailiffs get some money back through the bailiffs, the service fees and camera technology costs still incur a loss to the company on every case solved.
On the day KentOnline spoke to the garage there had already been three incidents of harassment.
The amount taken varies from day to day, but the supervisor was able to give a rough guideline.
“They’re stealing from us and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
They said, ‘Figures vary, but a good month costs £2,000.’ But we did our reports at the end of last year and from November to December we lost £7,000.
“It has continued to rise, but recently, in the last three to four months, it is much higher than it used to be.
“It went up about two years ago after COVID, but now it’s starting to go up again.”
In many cases, people come into the store and explain why they can’t pay, whether it’s because they misplaced or forgot their wallet on the way to the repair shop.
Last year a Gillingham mother was unable to leave a petrol station because her telephone payment was not received.
But in some cases, the supervisor said people filled up their cars, got back in and got out while smiling and waving through the window.
They continued: “You feel helpless, that’s the easiest word for it.
“You feel like a victim, especially when a small garage like this is trying to help the community. At Christmas we do raffles at the markets, we help schools by collecting money.
“We’re at a loss but we help the community, then Joe Bloggs comes along, deposits £70 and goes on his way. You sit there and think, why am I doing this?
“They’re stealing from us and there’s nothing you can do about it.
“It’s disgusting. For me, as long as I’ve been here, it’s a family and I feel part of the family and when they steal it feels like they’re stealing from me and I take that to heart.
“I know I shouldn’t think like that, but when you’ve been in the business for so long, you take it to heart.”