Over the weekend of 8th and 9th October diesel and coal has been stolen from the Balthane industrial Estate, Castletown. The Police would like to hear from anyone that has been offered diesel or a 25kg bag of ‘Wildfire’ coal. Constable TREVETHAN would like to highlight that any information, no matter how insignificant that it may seem at the time, is of great importance and he would be keen to hear from anybody with any information as soon as possible at Port Erin Police Station on 631212. If you would prefer to pass this information anonymously, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. As the winter period approaches the problem of theft of both heating and diesel oil is on the increase. Last year, 2010, on the Isle of Man ?20,000 worth of oil was taken and we can all help in keeping this figure down. Someone in our community knows who is doing this, somewhere, someone has been offered oil at a lowered price or knows where drums of oil are being stored in unusual circumstances. Rises in crude oil see rises in these types of crime also and it is an increasing problem. This makes oil an attractive proposition for the thief and they are now actively targeting fuel tanks in farms, vehicle storage sites and domestic properties. The Police are also targeting these areas increasing their patrols and working with the oil providers to try and reduce this kind of crime. Make sure that you take precautions to protect your own tanks. Security lights can have a very positive effect and make any property a much harder target for the thief. Always remember that those who deliver your oil will need to be able to do so safely. If you are considering pad locks and other security devices make sure that they are off when the delivery is due. Always make sure that your tank is regularly checked and the level monitored. The quicker the Police get to know about such a crime the more likelihood there is of catching someone. People need to be vigilant about their fuel storage arrangements and report any suspicious activity. Recently a male was charged with offences relating to the theft of oil and investigations are ongoing. For more crime prevention advice contact your local Police Station. ENDS