NSW: South-western service stations to introduce pre-pay fuel

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2006
NSW: South-western service stations to introduce pre-pay fuel

From today most service stations in south-western Sydney will make motorists pay for
their fuel before they fill up .. to combat the rising number of drive-offs.

59 out of 70 service stations in the Bankstown and Liverpool areas will take part in
a six month trial of the system.

It follows a sudden increase in drive-offs from service stations .. and the theft of
number plates from motor vehicles.





Police say there have been more than 560 drive-offs between January and August this
year .. in the Bankstown area alone.

NSW Police Minister CARL SCULLY first announced the initiative on August 10 .. and
says the government's considering amending laws relating to petrol theft to make it easier
for offenders to be prosecuted.

And as number plates are often stolen by petrol thieves to make it difficult for their
cars to be identified .. Mr SCULLY says they're encouraging motorists to use one-way screws
.. to make plates more difficult to steal.

AAP RTV kjd/bd/klw/tm/bart

KEYWORD: PETROL NSW (SYDNEY)

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.