Sabotaging my own fuel-Legal?

barrymung

Hello,

Had a spate of thefts recently from an outbuilding. Neighbours have experienced the same thing.

The only thing nicked in each case was petrol. There is a traveler site nearly and it's assumed the fuel is ending up in vehicles and power tools.

Police and council are dis-interested.

How would I stand legally if I poured sugar into a jerry can of petrol and it got nicked and used, thus b*ggering up the thieves engine?

I mean, if I choose to have a can of sugared petrol in my garden it's my own business, right? If someone steals it and uses it can I be held responsible for their damaged engine or chainsaw?

Any thoughts and advice greatfully received!

jb66

No one is going to complain to the police that the petrol they stole was contaminated

Guardsman

It's your petrol it's on your property and it should not be stolen.
Just make sure that you don't use it yourself.

If we are to do things legally then just check how much fuel you can legally store in your shed, it used to be 20 litres max and had to be stored in no more than 10 litre containers 2x10.

arcon5

I can't think of why this would be a problem, for you anyway. I love this idea, a type of vigilante justice. Just keep us updated

System

Add some Avpin to the petrol. You should then spot which vehicle it is in when the cylinder head attempts to get into orbit

barrymung

Just googled and I love the avpin stuff! Not sure where I can get it though and whether it'd blow someone's head off!

Of course I'll update you all but it's likely to be a post in six months time telling you that I have just managed to blow my own rotovator up with some sugared petrol, such is my memory these days!

barrymung

Just done a google and contrary to popular belief, sugar is unlikely to do anything! It simply settles in the bottom of the fuel.

mattyprice4004

Trying to think of the most lethal thing you can put in the petrol... could always mix it with some diesel, that'll stop anything they're trying to use it in.

Acetone?

Lifeforms

I watched an Ep of Mythbusters recently, prolly an old one though, and they tested the sugar myth. Bleach worked kinda ok, but only rusted the petrol tank after some time. It did kill the engine, but not totally.

A car engine will be destroyed when bleach is put into the fuel tank.
plausible
The engine soon died out but wasn’t ruined from the experience. The following morning, the inside of the gas tank was covered in rust.

A car engine will be destroyed when sugar is put into the fuel tank.
busted
The engine ran even better than without the sugar.

Now if they were nicking oil...

Adding bleach to the oil of a car can destroy the engine.
confirmed
The engine started but it soon started smoking, and very quickly overheated. The engine was so hot, that the undercarriage started burning and Adam fried an egg on the tailpipe. The engine was ultimately ruined.

Guardsman

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-consumption/sugar-in-gas-tank.htm

mattyprice4004

Guardsman wrote: »

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-consumption/sugar-in-gas-tank.htm

Good point, put some water in!