How far will you go to get fuel at a fraction of the cost?

The rise in fuel costs and the generally high cost of living has caused someone people to look at other ways to save some money. However, one man’s creative ways has landed three truck drivers behind bars. The drivers were caught red-handed siphoning diesel fuel from their company trucks.

BAKKIE DRIVER DESPERATE FOR PETROL

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Reaction Unit SA officers had been patrolling the area around Hazelmere when they spotted the three men stealing the fuel from the trucks and loading the 25-litre drums into a white bakkie.

The owner of the white bakkie fled the scene once he spotted the RUSA officers approach but abandoned the car when he reached a dead end. The truck drivers tried to flee on foot but two were soon apprehended while a third handed himself over.

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BLACK MARKET FUEL PRICES

The drivers confessed to being recruited by the bakkie owner and they have been stealing fuel since the start of the year. The mastermind behind the operation- the bakkie owner- is said to have recruited drivers from other companies as well and pays each driver R300 for a 25-litre drum.

At current fuel costs, diesel cost R18,77 a litre and 25 litre’s at a petrol station would have cost the bakkie driver R429,25. A saving of nearly R130 for each drum.

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The officers recovered the white bakkie containing 8 drums totalling 200 litres of fuel worth R3 754. However, it would have cost the driver R2 400 through his illicit operation.

The case has been handed over to the Verulam SAPS.

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