Police Must Clarify Reported Fuel Theft ‘Threshold’ Urgently - MTA

An apparent directive within police not to investigate fuel theft below $150 is unacceptable and will anger and disappoint service stations, the Motor Trade Association (MTA) says.

MTA wants urgent clarification from the Police Minister and Police Commissioner that all fuel theft will be investigated appropriately.

“Service stations are the most preyed on retailers in the country,” says James McDowall, MTA Head of Advocacy.

“They provide an essential service and deserve the full protection and support of NZ Police and Government. This directive, if enacted, would seriously erode faith in both.”

Radio New Zealand has reported the existence of a NZ Police directive applying "nationally standardised value thresholds" when assessing theft and fraud files, meaning many crimes will not be investigated.

The value thresholds are: General theft $200, petrol drive off $150, shoplifting $500, fraud (paywave, online, scam etc) $1000, and all other fraud $500.

Mr McDowall says while it’s understandable that police prioritise offending, to ignore what would amount to thousands of crimes every year is unacceptable.

“Last year, there was almost 30,000 instances of theft from service stations, according to NZ Police’s own data.

“Many of those would be under the reported threshold – you can fill up most cars for under $150 – and therefore not investigated.

“Frankly, there is already widespread belief amongst service stations that police do not take fuel theft seriously, and this only reinforces that view.”

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MTA echoes a call from Retail NZ and retail advocate Sunny Kaushal, Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime, for meetings with the Minister and Commissioner for urgent clarification.

“We respect that there should be a nationwide, standardised approach to retail crime, rather than regional variations.

“But the standard approach should be that every theft hurts a hard-working business, operating on slim margins.”

Mr McDowall says MTA has met with Police Minister Mark Mitchell previously, and found him supportive and informed.

“We trust we can work with the Minister and police to find a way forward, and keep service stations safe from retail crime.”

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