Kamal Ghorui
A service station owner in Sydney has been left angry after a truck driver allegedly filled up multiple tanks and drove off without paying, stealing almost $3,000 worth of fuel in one incident.The theft took place at a petrol station in Cranebrook, near Penrith, where owner Anthony Pincevic says the driver spent around 10 minutes refuelling before leaving without paying the bill.Pincevic claims the driver moved between several pumps, filling the truck’s tanks and also using on-site facilities to clean the vehicle before driving off with an estimated $2,800 to $3,000 worth of fuel.Speaking to 9News, he said the incident was particularly frustrating because of how casual it appeared.“People come here, and they think it’s a big branded site, so it doesn’t matter,” he said.He added: “But it’s actually a family-run business. You’re stealing from us.”He added that fuel theft has become more common, adding pressure to already tight margins in the industry.“We’re trying to keep prices fair, but the margins are super low,” he said.Industry commentator Peter Khoury from the NRMA said fuel prices remain unstable, with wholesale changes continuing to affect what drivers pay at the pump.“The only certainty right now is just how volatile things are,” he said, referring to recent swings in fuel costs.Pincevic has reported the matter to police but says progress has been slow. He is now offering a $1,000 reward for information that helps identify the driver.
