The owner of a service station in Sydney was left fuming after a truck driver allegedly filled up several tanks and drove off without paying, stealing almost $3,000 worth of fuel in one incident.The theft happened at a petrol station in Cranbrook, near Penrith, where owner Anthony Pinswick says the driver spent about 10 minutes filling up with fuel before leaving without paying the bill.Pinswick claims the driver worked his way between several pumps, filled the truck’s tanks and also used on-site facilities to clean the vehicle before driving away with an estimated $2,800 to $3,000 worth of fuel.Speaking to 9News he said the incident was particularly disappointing because it seemed so random.“People come here and think it’s a big branded site, so it doesn’t matter,” he said.He said: “But this is actually a family-run business. You are stealing from us.”He said fuel theft has become common, adding to the pressure on already thin margins in the industry.“We’re trying to keep prices reasonable, but margins are very thin,” he said.NRMA industry commentator Peter Khouri said fuel prices remain volatile, with wholesale changes impacting what drivers pay at the pump.“The only certainty right now is how volatile things are,” he said, referring to recent fluctuations in fuel prices.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.
