Welsh villagers have transformed into amateur detectives to hunt down thieves stealing fuel from a family-run petrol station in Gwynedd, North Wales, as prices continue to spike due to the Iran war. Prysor Service Station was targeted on three separate occasions, with perpetrators filling their tanks and driving off without payment.
Owner Takes Action
Judith Troughton, who runs the station, took matters into her own hands by posting images of suspected vehicles on social media. One image captured a brunette woman in a hooded khaki jacket over checkered pyjama-like trousers filling a battered silver Audi. She appears to wave at CCTV before driving away. The same thief was spotted at another station 35 miles away, wearing the same trousers, but remains unidentified.
Community Response
Ms Troughton's plea sparked a local effort, with villagers taking on detective roles. Sightings included a van parked outside a pub near Porthmadog, later tailed to a beach. Ms Troughton praised the 'power of Facebook' after the sleuthing led to a full refund for the stolen fuel, now easily exceeding £100 per tank.
Rising Costs
Drivers are expected to hit the £2 billion mark in extra fuel costs due to the Iran war. Filling an average 55-litre tank with petrol is over £13 more expensive, and diesel £26 more, compared to prices on 28 February when the US bombed Iran.
More Thefts
In another incident, a driver filled up with £68 worth of fuel and drove away, but was spotted by locals. Karma struck when the thief broke down and was caught by traffic police. Ms Troughton said, 'He borrowed money and paid up. He was absolutely mortified.'
Rising Trend
Figures show fuel thefts have risen 62 per cent since the Iran war began, with the value of stolen fuel up 46 per cent. The pyjama-wearing woman remains at large despite committing identical thefts at two stations in Gwynedd.
