Rising fuel prices spark surge in gasoline thefts, prompting night-time pump closures in Germany

According to the Tankstellen-Interessenverband Deutschland, the surge in gasoline prices is lowering the threshold for crime, leading more motorists to drive away from stations without paying. Herbert Rabl, the association’s spokesperson, links the trend to price levels near 2.40 euros per litre and notes that both youths and older drivers are increasingly involved. Thieves often conceal their identities with tampered or stolen number plates, though surveillance cameras typically capture clear evidence.

Police are alerted and can often identify suspects from the footage. To mitigate losses, some operators now lock pumps during nighttime hours, a tactic that the Kieler Nachrichten says has already cut theft numbers, while Westfalen’s stations report a modest rise in incidents over the past few weeks.