The state’s peak body representing thousands of automotive businesses has slammed the recommendations of a parliamentary inquiry into petrol thefts.
The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) criticised the inquiry into fuel drive-offs for not getting “to the heart of the issue”.
A VACC survey found Hume, Brimbank and Casey accounted for almost half of all reported fuel drive-offs in Victoria, and it has called on the government to use protective service officers to follow up petrol thefts, in conjunction with the Sherriff’s Office.
Victoria Police has stated fuel drive-offs are “preventable crimes”, which can be fixed by pre-paying at the pump. It says investigating fuel drive-offs strains resources.
Caltex licensee holder Ben Barsoun manages a service station in Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows. Despite being next door to Broadmeadows Police Station, Mr Barsoun said his business loses about $2500 each month to petrol thieves.
“We have a state-of-the-art CCTV system, but it doesn’t matter because the police say it’s a civil matter,” Mr Barsoun said.
Among its recommendations, the inquiry committee urged that Victoria Police develop an online incident report form, but VACC executive director Geoff Gwilym rejected this as an effective solution.
