An alleged fuel thief who police say made away with close to $2900 worth of diesel without paying now has a date in court.
The 22-year-old visited a petrol station in Sydney’s south about 7.15pm on April 11, filling up a number of large drums and jerry cans.
But when it came to squaring the $2870 bill with the kiosk clerk, police allege he simply drove away with the 915-litre haul in his white ute.
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Police launched an investigation and the accused was arrested at Goulburn Police Station on Thursday.
He was issued with a court attendance notice for dishonestly obtaining property by deception, and granted bail to appear before Downing Centre Court on June 15.
Fuel thefts from service stations have spiked since the start of the war in the Middle East.
But even before the conflict began, fuel “drive-offs” reportedly cost retailers about $80 million annually.
