FUEL thieves are becoming a major problem in Huddersfield.

They drive in to the town’s filling stations, fill up their cars and drive off without paying.

This type of crime is something that has always taken place but, with higher fuel costs, some criminals are tempted to try and get away without paying for fuel more regularly than they did before.

The theft of fuel is anything but a victimless crime. Each time the thief can be getting away with fuel worth anything up to £60 or £70.

If 99.9% of people continue to work hard and pay for fuel legitimately, why should we allow a minority of criminals to get away with these thefts unchallenged?.

That’s why I am particularly anxious to track down one individual.

I am appealing for information on a number of thefts of fuel that have been taking place at the Total garage on Leeds Road in Bradley.

Throughout December, a man in a black Vauxhall Corsa has been taking fuel from the petrol station without paying for it.

While the car has been displaying different registration plates – NG02 VYN and OU55 XRH – the suspect has been the same.

He has been caught on the CCTV cameras but still got away again.

With this in mind, anyone with information that could help us track down the offenders for these, or any other crimes, should contact the police via 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

EVERY week in this column I pass on pictures of people we want to speak to in connection with all sorts of crimes, from burglary and theft to robbery and assaults.

Some people wonder if we ever get results from appeals such as these, so I am pleased to be able to say today that as a result of a CCTV image we released in October, we have arrested and charged a 33-year old man with shoplifting.

The man will be appearing in court on January 16.

He was arrested and charged thanks to the readers of the Examiner who contacted us with information about him.

This week I am asking for the same help in identifying two men we need to speak to about two thefts in Huddersfield.

On December 28, two bicycles were stolen from the bike rack of the Asda supermarket car park in Long Hill Road, Brackenhall.

The thefts took place at around 12.30pm and were caught on CCTV in the car park.

Two men were in the area at the time of the thefts and I am appealing for anyone who recognises the men in the images to contact us.