// BBC BUSINESS NEWS — FINANZA
Haulier blames fuel prices for diesel theft
A West Midlands haulage company has said thieves are motivated by rising fuel prices after they stole 400 litres of diesel.
Martin Pinches, director of M Pinches & Sons Ltd in Worcester, said the fuel was stolen from two vehicles at the weekend.
"[It happened] because of the price of fuel," he claimed, adding that it was "an added cost that everyone has been burdened with."
Pinches said fuel had become "liquid gold" and estimated the missing diesel was worth about £800.
Because we're a business, and we use more fuel, it's a bigger burden on us really," he added.
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Pinches said the thieves also broke numerous fuel sending units and fuel caps on the vehicles, resulting in lost revenue as they were out of action for a day being repaired.
West Mercia Police told the BBC it had "received a report of a burglary after a business was broken into sometime between 24 and 25 October.
A force spokesperson said: "It was reported that a large quantity of fuel was stolen from two lorries on the site. Inquiries are ongoing."
Pitches said someone cut the pipes on the fuel sending units to drain the diesel