HUNDREDS of litres of heating oil have been stolen in a series of raids.
Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward following four incidents in the past month which saw oil stolen from tanks near properties in Flintshire.
Officers are offering advice to residents to help them be less at risk of falling victim to oil thieves.
Sgt John Williams, of the North Flintshire policing team, said three of the incidents had taken place in the Mostyn and Trelawnyd areas of the county with oil tanks being accessed and emptied.
Lids are believed to have been unscrewed.
He said: “We have crime prevention packs available. These offer advice such as locking caps.
“If anyone knows anything about these incidents we would urge them to call 101.”
Hundreds of litres were stolen during the raids.
The first incident was reported on February 1 in Penyffordd, near Mostyn. About 200 litres of heating oil taken from the tank at a property.
On February 12 oil was reported stolen from a tank in a garden on Ffordd Pennant, Mostyn.
The third incident took place in Trelawnyd.
It was reported to police on Wednesday and the theft had taken place at some point in the previous eight days.
A fourth oil theft has been taken place in Ewloe.
The incident took place on Ferry Hill and was reported on Thursday.
Trelawnyd councillor Nigel Steele-Mortimer said: “We have had problems in this area like this before, but not for a couple of years.
“It is always concerning to hear of incidents like this going on.
"There may be pensioners who do not have much money who then have to pay out for new oil because someone has stolen it.”