Thieves steal fuel from Topsham garage

HUNDREDS of pounds worth of damage has been caused at Station Garage in Topsham after thieves drilled holes into a number of car fuel tanks to steal petrol. The criminals sneaked into the garage, in Elm Grove Road, between Saturday, September 12 and Sunda

HUNDREDS of pounds worth of damage has been caused at Station Garage in Topsham after thieves drilled holes into a number of car fuel tanks to steal petrol.

The criminals sneaked into the garage, in Elm Grove Road, between Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13.

Fuel tanks on a Citroen Saxo and Chrysler Neon were damaged in order to get petrol out.

Percy Giles, police community support officer for the town, said: "The damage incurred is worrying. There have been similar incidents on the periphery of Topsham.

"Petrol prices are so high at the moment - it is obviously becoming a sought-after commodity to pinch."

To prevent such incidents from occurring again, Percy said motorists should take great care with where they leave their vehicles.

He added: "People should try to park their cars somewhere their cars can be easily seen - ideally places that are lit up and in busy places."

Mark Blatchford, manager of Station Garage, said the thieves had drilled five holes into the fuel tank of one car and three in the other.

"The tanks now have to come out and be repaired or replaced. They are not cheap to sort out.

"It causes quite a lot of inconvenience because we now have to do this at our own cost.

"I would rather be spending this money on happens giving my staff a bonus or investing it in something else."

There is no CCTV in and around the Elm Grove Road area. If you have any information about the incident, call Devon and Cornwall police on 08452 777444.