Police seek driver who fails to pay at Shropshire petrol stations
Police have issued CCTV images of a man and his vehicle in connection with a series of incidents where he has filled up at Shropshire petrol stations and made off without paying.
At least four incidents have been reported in the West Mercia Police area, mainly in Shropshire.
And it's believed he has failed to pay at other petrol stations in the West Midlands and further afield, in Bedfordshire and Cambridgshire.
The incidents are being investigated by police at Shifnal. Investigating officer, PC Phil Nock believes the same vehicle has been used each time, with different number plates, believed to be stolen.
Fuel to the value of nearly £200 has been taken from the four incidents in West Mercia.
The most recent was from Tesco Extra at Battlefield, Shrewsbury at 1.55pm on February 8, when unleaded fuel to the value of £28.35 was drawn.
Other incidents were reported from Morrisons in Malvern two days earlier when unleaded fuel worth £52.06 was taken at 4pm; Jays Service Station, Cosford also on February 6, at 9.45am when unleaded fuel worth £66.81 was drawn; and at Morrisons in Wellington at 2.09pm on February 3, when unleaded fuel valued £47.40 was taken.
In all four cases, no effort was made to pay.
PC Nock said: "I've released the two images of the person involved and the vehicle which is believed to be a red Toyota Previa people carrier, registration V416JAJ, probably a Japanese import manufactured between 1990 and 1998.
"The man in the CCTV pictures is white and aged 18 to 35. On occasions, the passenger has filled up, but mostly the driver.
"I am anxious to receive any information which might help identify the people using this distinctive vehicle. I suspect the number plates may have since been changed using stolen plates or by doctoring part of the number."
He added: "They are targeting both busy town and rural stations. The red people carrier is on a mini crime spree involved in various make-offs without payment in Shropshire, Telford, into the West Midlands and as far as Beds and Cambridgeshire."
Anyone with information about the identity of the people concerned, or has knowledge of the vehicle involved, is asked to contact PC Nock at Shifnal police station on the 101 non-emergency number.
