OPPORTUNISTIC thieves stole red diesel from a trailer whose driver was snoozing in a layby on the A46.
Around 120 litres of the fuel – strictly for use in farm and construction machinery – was siphoned off while the driver was asleep in the cab near Salford Priors on Tuesday night (February 24).
It is illegal to use the fuel in regular vehicles and its illicit use has been targeted during a recent police operation across Warwickshire.
It is around 50p cheaper than a litre of normal diesel and HM Revenue and Customs estimates the crime costs the UK £100million a year in lost tax revenue.
