Police investigate reports of fuel thefts from Amble harbour
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An investigation has been launched by police after two Amble harbour businesses reported fuel thefts.
Alliance Fish reported that fuel was allegedly stolen from a truck on Saturday, June 29 after a large patch of fuel was seen spilled underneath.
Puffin Cruises also reported that refuelling equipment had been stolen from one of its boats and vital life-saving equipment had been damaged and stolen.
It is unknown if the cases are linked but CCTV footage from locations around the harbour have been passed on to Northumbria Police.
Amble Harbour.
Steven Banks, 32, who co-owns Puffin Cruises with his uncle Dave, said: “It took one of our boats out of service, which was pretty disappointing really.
“It’s happened many years ago, but things have been pretty okay since,” he added.
“The equipment disappeared off the boat, as someone noticed, and then we realised once we actually got down onto the boat that the firefighting equipment had been pulled out, taking the boat out of service.”
The theft put one of Puffin Cruises’ boats out of action, which was a real concern as the fire safety and refuelling equipment was for the lighthouse on Coquet Island. Fortunately, the police have now recovered the stolen items.
Alliance Fish said that more diesel was spilled on the ground surrounding the vehicle than removed, and that they still had enough to start the engine.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “We can confirm we are investigating two reports of theft in the Amble harbour area of Northumberland over the weekend.
“In the early hours of Saturday morning (June 29), we received a report of a theft of fuel from a truck. “Then between 9pm that night and 7.45am on Sunday (June 30) we received a report of theft of fuel from a boat.
“Enquiries are ongoing into both thefts and officers are keeping an open mind as to whether they may be linked.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact police by sending a private message on social media, visiting the live chat on our website or by completing a crime update form quoting references NP-20240629-0430 and NP-20240630-0310.”
References
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