Company UK
The problem
- Red diesel more difficult to obtain
- Employee pilfering – SUV folk
- Lorries and vans targeted
- Thieves break-in to compounds and pump out white diesel from vehicles
- Once thieves have left the site there is no proof that the diesel has been stolen
Losses
- Damage to property
- Lost fuel – typically 200litres but can be several tonnes
- Vehicle breakdown
- Late deliveries and lost clients
- Receivership
- One small operator estimated £20-30k pa
The test
- Sample of fuel taken
- Shake with buffer
- Five drops into well
- Leave two minutes
- If positive, sign, date and place evidence in bag
- Enough marker to detect even after one tank re-fill
Results
- Two sites targeted
- First break-in followed by targeted testing
- No further thefts from either site
- Main suspect now in prison
Taking this forward
- Single covert marker identified with police test kit
- Unique forensic fingerprint for each haulier (proves fuel comes from that sites and required by CPS)
- Enough fingerprints for all UK companies
- Does not interfere with materials used by customs
- Used at ppb levels, safe and burnt with fuel
- Easily applied in tablets or liquids e.g. one tablet per tankful of fuel
