UK drivers have stolen an estimated average of almost £200,000 worth of fuel from petrol stations daily since the Iran war started, according to industry analysis. Figures from Forecourt Eye indicate that incidents of fuel being taken without payment have risen by a fifth in the five months since 28 February.
The conflict in the Middle East disrupted oil supplies, leading to increased wholesale prices and higher costs at the pump in the UK. The value of stolen fuel is estimated to have risen by 48% compared to the five months before the war, reaching an estimated daily average of £194,000.
Forecourt Eye, a fuel theft prevention company, also reported an increase in "abuse, intimidation and violence from frustrated customers." The figures are based on a representative sample of 550 forecourts, extrapolated to the UK's 8,359 forecourts, showing an average of 2,872 daily incidents across the UK after the war began, up from around 2,400.
The volume of stolen fuel increased by 24%, from an estimated 87,000 litres to 108,900 litres a day across all forecourts. In response, Forecourt Eye announced a partnership with facial recognition company Facewatch to provide over 2,000 retailers with free access to crime reporting technology starting in the autumn.
Fuel prices peaked in April, then fell after a framework deal between the US and Iran in June, but have since risen again following the collapse of peace talks. Last week, petrol prices reached a new high since the Middle East conflict began, and their highest level since 2022.
Chancellor John Healey stated at the weekend that the government would act on any price gouging due to the Iran war, though he noted no significant evidence of this yet. Fuel retailers have denied accusations of price gouging, with the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) criticising the government's "inflammatory language." The Competition and Markets Authority found no widespread evidence of price gouging in May but is investigating increased fuel margins for some retailers.