Fuel theft: 19-year-old charged with 51 offences after stealing dozens of tanks of fuel

A teenager has been charged with 51 offences, including stealing hundreds of dollars worth of fuel, dating back to December 21 in the Pilbara. Police claim the 19-year-old allegedly drove off 14 times with a full tank of fuel in Karratha and South Hedland, as well as drove without a licence in an unregistered car. Pilbara traffic officers charged the woman on Saturday with 51 offences dating back to December 21. In a tweet, Karratha police said “fuel is expensive but it does not give you the right to steal it . . . especially when you have a suspended licence.” The teenager is expected to appear in court on June 8 for the charges. It comes as the average price of fuel surged past the $2 mark last Wednesday, despite the halving of the excise for six months as part of a $8.6 billion cost-of-living package introduced by the former Federal Government. The Australian Institute of Petroleum is expected to release its weekly petrol price during the week. Last week’s report showed the national average had increased to 185¢ per litre, the fourth weekly rise in a row after dropping to an average of 166.3¢ per litre in mid-April following the excise reduction.