School Is Targeted Yet Again By Oil Thieves
Lockerley primary school has been the victim of oil thieves three times in the past eighteen months. The school reopened on January 4th after the Christmas holidays and there was shock and dismay when the realisation that there was no heating set in. It was decided to close the school again for three days after students bravely tried to function as normal for two days. The oil company simply could not get to the school quick enough for it to stay open due to the treacherous road conditions that were seen throughout the United Kingdom.
The head teacher Ms. Ann Smyth explained how when they returned to school in January, the gauge on the tank showed that it was empty despite it being half full before the school had closed for the Christmas holidays. Even though the school was forced to close again between the sixth and eighth of January management did not stop in their attempts to secure an oil delivery. On Thursday 7th January their attempts were successful and the oil delivery finally made it through the snow and ice to deliver 1000 litres of oil to the school. However their joy was short lived as they found the gauge again showing empty the following Monday morning. It was pointed out by Ms. Smyth that the school had been targeted back in July 2008 but that the thieves had fled after being interrupted.
Staff at the school originally thought that the tank’s gauge was not working until they checked the levels themselves and found that thieves had cut into the top of the tank. In an effort to prevent further attacks, the school have had to step up security. There have been suggestions that many the tank should have a cage placed around it to stop thieves from reaching it. Police are investigating these incidents.
Theft of oil from tanks is a growing crime which has been made worse by the recession and the ever increasing cost of oil.
Heating ones home in the cold months of winter can cost a fair packet. Fuel such as electricity and gas show no signs of coming down in price. Clever people are switching to heating oil as a fuel though. After the changeover they have to make sure that the storage tanks are always full of cheap heating oil to make sure they don’t run dry in the cold weather.
