CLARE gardaí are urging home owners to secure their fuel supplies in the wake of two separate thefts of home heating oil in recent days.

Between December 5 and 12 a half tank of home heating oil was siphoned from a tank at the rear of a house in the Ardnaculla estate in Ennistymon.

And in a separate incident, sometime between December 13 and 15 a full tank of oil was stolen from a tank at the rear of a house in Sycamore Drive, Kilrush.

Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks says, “Again we want to advise home owners of the following security tips for oil tanks: Security lights / sensors can have a very positive effect and make property a much harder target for the thief.

“Invest in a good quality closed shackle padlock and fit it to the tank opening. A wooden or metal fence, trellis or wall can give significant protection to the tank and is probably the strongest method of making it hard for the thief to get at.

“A metal or grill cage with a lockable access point across the top of this wall or fence can further improve security.”

She concludes, “Remote oil level gauges are available which will set off an audible alarm when the oil level drops dramatically.”