In the past eighteen months Lockerley primary school has been targeted three times by oil thieves. When the school reopened after the Christmas holidays on 4th January staff were shocked to discover that there was no heating oil. It was decided to close the school again for three days after students bravely tried to function as normal for two days. With the horrendous weather sweeping the United Kingdom at the time it was impossible for emergency supplies of oil to get to the school and it was forced to close again for three days.
With a tank half full before the school closed for Christmas, head teacher Ms. Ann Smyth spoke of her shock at finding the gauge showing empty when they returned. Even though the school was forced to close again between the sixth and eighth of January management did not stop in their attempts to secure an oil delivery. On Thursday 7th January their attempts were successful and the oil delivery finally made it through the snow and ice to deliver 1000 litres of oil to the school. But when the school opened again on the following Monday morning the level was again at zero. It was pointed out by Ms. Smyth that the school had been targeted back in July 2008 but that the thieves had fled after being interrupted.
Ms. Smyth spoke of how they first thought that the gauge on the tank was broken but it was only when they actually climbed up to see the oil in the tank that they found the lock had been cut and that the oil had been stolen. The school have now had to increase security to try to prevent further oil thefts. One idea that has been considered is to place a cage around the tank so that thieves cannot get to the tank. Police are continuing their investigations into these incidents.
The growing cost of oil and the global recession have seen huge increases in the number of thefts from oil tanks.
Some people spend a lot of money heating their homes in the winter. Electricity and gas prices are very high and show no signs of coming down any time soon. Savvy people are changing over to oil as a home fuel though. After the changeover they have to make sure that the storage tanks are always full of Boilerjuice ensuring they can always heat their home in winter.