How do I protect my oil tank from theft?
The location of your oil fired central heating oil tank is very important – locating your tank in a place where it is not easily visible is recommended. Other measures you could consider include:
Screen your tank
If your domestic heating oil tank is visible, consider planting bushes (must be at least 0.6 metres away from your tank) or constructing a fence around it (at least 0.76 metres away). However, access will be required for maintenance and filling, and this needs to be considered when erecting and screening.
Tank gauge
If you have a heating oil tank gauge or monitor, it may give a warning via an App on your smartphone if your heating oil is being stolen.
Security lighting
Lighting may startle any trespassers and discourage intruders, and could alert you to their presence if your domestic heating oil tank is within sight of your home, and/or CCTV can be a good deterrent or even consider a ‘Beware of the dog’ sign.
Locks
Tank locks can be fitted to the cap of your heating oil tank. These should be high-quality padlocks – round shackle padlocks are recommended because they have a closed shackle that’s difficult to access with bolt cutters.
Bunded tank
If you do not already have one, consider changing to a bunded tank. Bunded tanks make stealing fuel more complicated as thieves have to penetrate both the outer tank and the inner tank.