Rushcliffe Police report that, but for the continuing problems of drive-offs from Ruddington Service Station, last month would have been a very quiet month indeed for crime in our village. The figures are revealed in the Force’s statistics for August, just released.
Out of just eleven reported offences during last month in Ruddington, five of them were motorists driving off from the Loughborough Road filling station without making payment.
Interestingly, however, police have again excluded the four day return of travellers to Sellors’ Field in the middle of the month from their figures – since the matter of eviction was dealt with primarily by Ruddington Parish Council and its own bailiffs.
Here’s the full list of crimes reported via 101 from 1st August – 31st August 2018:-
2nd Drive-off from Esso Garage. Driver in a van made no attempt to pay.
2nd Theft from Sainsbury’s where a female stole items.
7th Drive-off from Esso garage. Female filled up with fuel and left without making payment.
12th Aggressive male refused to pay for fuel at Esso Garage and became confrontational towards cashier.
16th Unknown suspect caused damage overnight to a business window on Vicarage Lane – possibly using a pellet gun.
22nd Drive-off from Esso Garage by a van bearing false plates. No attempt was made to pay.
24th Bogus caller told elderly householder he was from the water board and needed to enter her property. Whilst in the house he stole a purse belonging to a visitor. >>MORE<<.
28th During the early hours an unknown suspect attempted to gain entry to Sainsbury’s through the roof. But he activated the alarm and didn’t get in.
30th Attempted break-in to garage on Flawforth Lane where building works were taking place. Nothing was stolen.
30th Drive-off from Esso Garage by a male driving a Silver BMW. He filled with fuel but made no attempt to pay.
31st Unknown suspects stole a car overnight by unknown means from a field on Loughborough Road.
It’s known that, in the past, officers have suggested introducing a pre-payment system for fuel at Ruddington Service Station to prevent these crimes. The Euro Garages run facility has previously decided against going down this route. However, earlier this year, supermarkets including Asda, started to charge drivers a £99 pre-authorisation charge to pay for fuel at the pump, following a rule change by Visa and Mastercard. So only time will tell…
Meantime, if you have any information about the fuel thefts or any of the other reported offences in Ruddington – or may have captured CCTV footage that could help – you’re asked to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101. Or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
