A woman in pyjamas, captured on CCTV filling a silver Audi with fuel before driving away, is being sought by police in connection with a series of thefts that have hit small, rural petrol stations in North Wales.
The incidents, which took place over the Easter weekend, are alleged to have occurred at two locations: Garej Ni in Pwllheli on April 5, and Prysor Service Station in Trawsfynydd the following day. In both cases, the woman is reported to have driven off without making any payment.
For the independent businesses targeted, the financial blow is acutely felt. Cain Williams of Garej Ni said the driver took around £56 of fuel, a significant loss for a station he describes as making very little profit on fuel sales. Judith Troughton, owner of Prysor Service Station, reported a £50 loss, calling the theft “awful” and stating it is hard enough to make a living without such incidents.
The Precarious Economics of Rural Fuel Stations
This criminal activity strikes at a particularly vulnerable time for both consumers and retailers. The thefts occurred against a backdrop of soaring fuel prices, driven by instability in the Middle East. Since the conflict began on February 28, petrol and diesel have become 25p and 49p per litre more expensive respectively.
For small, rural stations like these, operating on thin margins is the norm. Industry analysis from the RAC indicates that even before the recent surges, the long-term average retailer margin for fuel was around 8p per litre. While margins have fluctuated, the fundamental challenge for rural outlets remains: they face the same wholesale cost increases as larger forecourts but with far less capacity to absorb losses from theft or price volatility.
The impact extends beyond forecourt fuel. Rural communities, many not connected to the mains gas grid, are heavily reliant on heating oil, the price of which has also more than doubled in some cases. North Wales Police have previously advised residents to secure oil tanks following thefts, highlighting a broader pattern of fuel-related crime that preys on isolated areas.
Both business owners emphasised the rarity of such drive-off incidents in their localities, with Mr Williams stating he could not recall it ever happening before during his time there. This underscores how targeted thefts can disproportionately affect businesses unaccustomed to them.
North Wales Police confirmed they are investigating a series of thefts from retailers across the western part of the force area. The force has released CCTV footage in a public appeal for information. As of now, no arrests have been made.
