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STUNNED: Frank Pullen at Lees Village Service Station where 2,000 litres of diesel was stolen

Thieves siphon away 2,000 litres of diesel
Owners of a family-run service station have been left stunned after thieves siphoned 2,000 litres of diesel from underground tanks.

Staff at Lees Village Service Station checked CCTV footage after noticing the camera that covered the tanks had been tampered with.

Sue Collinge and dad Frank Pullen, who has owned the St John Street business for the past 20 years, witnessed a white Transit van pulling on to the forecourt in the footage.

The offenders arrived at around 3.30am on Sunday morning, and moved the camera to face a different direction.

A camera caught them leaving after the thieves had spent 40 minutes filling the van with the £3,000 worth of fuel after smashing open the access to the storage tanks.

It wasn’t until later that day that the pair realised just how much had been stolen, after carrying out a dip test before a new delivery.

Sue said: “This is a massive blow for us. We can’t believe that thieves would stoop so low, it’s hard enough in the current climate then something like this happens.”

The family pride themselves on giving a personal service to customers, with staff filling up the tanks of motorists.

Sue added: “We can’t compete with the price of petrol at supermarkets, so we have to go that extra mile to make things work — providing that personal touch, such as washing cars and checking tyres.

“We have insurance but we still have to claim and pay the excess. We want to warn other garages that this is happening.

“On the video you can see cars and taxis driving pass and they would have been able to see the van at the station, we hope they’ll come forward with some information.”

The family are now ramping up security.

Police have been informed and an investigation is now under way.Anyone who may have seen something can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555 111.