Gardaí are reminding the public to take steps to secure their home heating oil tanks, after a recent theft in west Donegal.
500 litres of home heating oil were stolen from a house at Glassagh, Derrybeg.
The theft took place between Midnight on Friday the 25th of October and 8am on Saturday the 26th of October.
If anybody observed suspicious activity or vehicles in the Derrybeg area between those dates, they have been asked to contact Gardaí in Milford on 074 91 53 060.
Garda Grainne Doherty has issued advice to homeowners as the Winter season is now underway, and thieves are on the lookout for potential home heating oil.
She says that homeowners should take the following steps to protect their oil tankers.
- Check oil levels frequently.
- Try to arrange smaller but more frequent oil deliveries.
- Install automatic movement sensor security lighting around the tank.
- Plant shrubs or install fences to screen tanks from view from the road.
- Install and use lockable access gates, and erect lockable fencing around your tank, including over the top.
- Consider fitting an alarm system which warns if the oil level drops suddenly.
- Be vigilant following a delivery.
- Be aware thieves may return to steal replacement oil following an initial theft.
- Always take note of suspicious vehicles’ registration numbers and report them to Gardaí.
