Service station drive-offs increase as fuel prices soar to unprecedented levels

Wednesday, 10 October 2018

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern claims NZ consumers are being fleeced by petrol prices. (Video first published in October 2018)

The country's largest retail fuel chain says there's been an increase in service station drive-offs, as petrol prices escalate to record levels.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is ramming through legislation in late October to enable the Commerce Commission to legally compel fuel retailers to provide details about margins.

But with the consumer watchdog unlikely to be able to exercise those powers until next year, consumers are paying more than ever before to fuel up their cars - pushing some towards theft.

Z Energy has noticed an increase in the number of service station drive-offs over the past month, coinciding with record-high fuel prices for motorists.

Z Energy, which also supplies fuel to the Caltex brand, has witnessed a 'slight increase in the number of drive-offs and the value of each occurrence,' over the past month.

**READ MORE:

Police are warning motorists that the chances of not being caught in petrol drive-offs are 'fairly slim'. (File photo)

* Wellington service station attendants copping motorists' fury over petrol prices

* Government will rush through legislation to look into petrol price margins

Mobil says it takes petrol drive-offs at its service stations 'extremely seriously'. (File photo)

* Gull New Zealand plans expansion into Wellington region

* Government points to rising margins as petrol closes in on $2.50 in main centres**

'Our Z stations have automatic number plate recognition software and high definition CCTV installed as an added deterrent … this doesn't allow a vehicle that has a 'drive-off' registered from filling up.

'Additionally, we review footage and report the details to the police to assist with any enquiry into tracking down the vehicle involved,' a spokesman said.

Mobil said it took security at its retail sites 'extremely seriously' and that it supported its service station operators to minimise the risk of such incidents.

BP said it also had technology in place to mitigate the drive-off problem, including CCTV and number plate recognition.

Gull general manager Dave Bodger said he was not aware of a significant increase in drive-offs.

He said a significant amount of their fuel was sold through unmanned sites, which were hard to drive away from without paying because the driver's card would have to be left in the machine.

When approached for comment, police issued a simple message for anyone considering driving off from a service station without paying.

'We want people to remember that petrol drive-offs are a criminal offence and the chances of not being caught are fairly slim, given the presence of CCTV cameras in service station forecourts. It's simply not worth the risk.'

On Monday, Stuff reported some Wellington service station attendants had been confronted by motorists unhappy with the rising price of fuel.

Police urged attendants to call them if they felt threatened or unsafe.