Port Alberni RCMP are warning residents after the theft of heating oil from a city home.
Several hundred litres of fuel were stolen from the victim, a senior, who realized there was a problem when the home started getting cold. It was discovered that a small copper line connecting the oil tank to the residence had been cut off, allowing oil to be drained through a valve.
Police said a similar theft was attempted at another home.
A local professional told police that securing the cap of a tank with a lock is one preventive measure, along with using a hydraulic hose rather than a copper line. Also suggested is covering the line or hose by building a protective box.
