CANBERRA, Australia — Petrol thefts, commonly known as “drive-offs,” are surging across Australia as fuel prices climb toward A$3 per litre, fueled by global oil supply disruptions from the ongoing Middle East conflict. Police in multiple states are bracing for further increases and urging service stations to adopt preventive measures like prepaid payment systems and enhanced CCTV to curb the opportunistic crime.

In South Australia, where the spike has been most pronounced, authorities recorded 221 fuel theft offences in the week ending March 15, 2026 — a 37% jump from 162 the previous week. Police Commissioner Grant Stevens highlighted that nearly half of the offenders — 97 individuals — were first-time culprits, suggesting economic pressures rather than organized crime were driving the trend.

“The cost-of-living pressures that people are dealing with, the significant increases in fuel costs — we will see more petrol drive-offs in the weeks to come,” Stevens told ABC Adelaide on March 18. He warned that police resources are stretched thin and could no longer prioritize investigations into preventable drive-offs unless retailers take decisive action.

Stevens specifically called for widespread adoption of prepaid pumps, noting that one South Australian service station already using the system reported zero incidents. “This takes police away from other responsibilities that we could be attending to,” he said, adding that while CCTV, number plate recognition and other identification tools help catch offenders after the fact, they do little to prevent the crime.

The Australian Federal Police and state forces in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland reported vigilance but did not provide specific recent statistics. In regional Victoria, police launched investigations into multiple thefts from parked vehicles in Kyneton between mid-March and March 22. Queensland trucking operators warned of overnight siphoning from heavy vehicles at rest stops, with thieves targeting hundreds of litres from diesel tanks while drivers slept.

Tasmanian police noted no clear pattern of increase, reporting 44 cases in the past six weeks, though the highest weekly tally — 11 — occurred before the latest fuel price surge. ACT Policing recorded only six incidents this year, with no siphoning reported, though officials acknowledged such offences are often under-reported.

The theft wave coincides with petrol prices nearing record highs, driven by supply fears from the escalating US-Iran conflict disrupting global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Unleaded fuel has approached A$3 per litre in some areas, prompting panic buying, calls for conservation and even discussions of potential rationing. The Prime Minister urged Australians to be “sensible” with fuel use, suggesting remote work or public transport to ease demand.

Service station operators face mounting pressure. The Australian Association of Convenience Stores acknowledged the issue but noted that implementing prepaid systems nationwide would require significant investment and could inconvenience legitimate customers. Many stations already use CCTV and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to deter theft and aid prosecutions, but critics argue these reactive measures fall short.

In South Australia, Stevens emphasized that drive-offs represent a preventable crime that diverts police from higher-priority matters. “While I acknowledge they’ve put in measures such as CCTV, number plate recognition and other measures that help us identify the offenders, it doesn’t actually assist us in mitigating this from a crime point of view,” he said.

Broader impacts include risks to small businesses. Service stations absorb losses from unpaid fuel, which can strain margins amid already tight retail conditions. Truck drivers, particularly in rural and regional areas, report heightened vulnerability to siphoning, prompting advice to lock fuel caps and park in well-lit, secure locations.

Authorities across states urged retailers to consider prepaid options, especially at high-risk sites or during peak price periods. Some stations have already trialed prepaid for certain pumps or after dark, with positive results in reducing incidents.

The surge has sparked public debate over responsibility. Motorists facing financial strain argue that extreme prices push desperate people to desperate acts, while police and retailers stress personal accountability and the need for deterrence.

As fuel volatility persists, experts predict thefts could continue rising if prices remain elevated or shortages materialize. Police in multiple jurisdictions reiterated calls for industry cooperation on preventive tech, warning that without change, drive-offs could overwhelm limited investigative capacity.

For now, the message from law enforcement is clear: proactive steps at the pump — from prepaid systems to better lighting and surveillance — offer the most effective defense against a crime tied directly to economic hardship and global events.