HUNDREDS of pounds worth of petrol is being stolen across North Sedgemoor's garages. Police are tracing number plates and hope to track down drivers who leave before paying for their fuel. Officers say there has been a huge rise in the number of thefts fr

HUNDREDS of pounds worth of petrol is being stolen across North Sedgemoor's garages.Police are tracing number plates and hope to track down drivers who leave before paying for their fuel.Officers say there has been a huge rise in the number of thefts from garages during the last month due to increases in the cost of a litre of petrol.Jennifer Chivers, who works at Crossroads garage, Upper Street, Cheddar, says more than two people a week drive off without paying for fuel.She said: "A lot of people have started to say they've forgotten their wallet and then give false details to us."The younger drivers just drive off and that's started to increase lately."There's been quite a few incidents lately and it seems like it's getting worse."GH Lunn & Son in Lower Weare has also reported several incidents of petrol thefts during the last month. Sgt Peter Yensen said: "There's been a huge increase at the moment of people driving off before paying for their petrol."These drivers are filling up their tanks and petrol is quite expensive when you do that."Historically we've always had people stealing petrol, but it seems to have got worse lately.