Nearly 500 Fuel Theft Cases Registered in Estonia Since May
From May 1 to July 22, Estonia recorded 476 fuel thefts, mostly at gas stations, but police note a rise in thefts from parked vehicles, including tractors and forestry machinery.
Estonian police have registered 476 fuel thefts between May 1 and July 22. The vast majority of these crimes still occur at gas stations, but in recent years, police have seen an increase in thefts from parked cars, tractors, and forestry equipment.
Of the total, 438 thefts happened at gas stations, while 38 involved fuel stolen from vehicles, trucks, construction machinery, or other locations. In Ida and Lääne-Viru counties, 12 thefts were reported, with seven at gas stations and five from vehicles or other objects.
Police officer Nikita Golovin noted that while gas station theft numbers remain stable, there is a rise in deliberate thefts using stolen or fake license plates and hiding faces from cameras. There are also cases of employees misusing employer fuel cards to fill their private cars, which qualifies as embezzlement.
By region, Harju County saw the most thefts (389), with 380 at gas stations. Other counties include Pärnu (22), Jõgeva (17), Tartu (13), and Lääne-Viru (8). Monthly breakdown: 186 thefts in May, 161 in June, and 129 in July up to the 22nd. Police urge witnesses to call emergency number 112 immediately.
