Waterford gardaí issue advice for keeping home oil tanks safe from thieves
There are a number of measures homeowners can take to secure their oil tanks and reduce the risk of theft.
Gardaí in Waterford have issued advice on securing oil tanks from thieves.
According to gardaí, positioning a tank close to the house and within view of windows can make thieves less likely to attempt a theft due to the increased chance of being seen.
Tanks should be away from the view of passing traffic by fencing, walls, shrubs, or hedging and behind lockable fencing or a cage, where possible.
Security lighting with motion sensors can act as a strong deterrent by illuminating the area if someone approaches the tank at night, provided you are close enough to observe when it is triggered.
Video doorbells could be positioned to take in the oil tank location or perhaps add an additional camera.
A good-quality padlock should be fitted to tank openings with a long barrel to allow for ease of fitting.
Technology can also play a role in preventing theft.
Remote electronic oil level gauges are available that trigger an alarm if the oil level drops suddenly, which may indicate a leak or theft.
Some systems can even send an alert directly to a homeowner’s mobile phone.
