Oil tank security

thriftypants

Hi, I have a Titan oil tank. Now it is costing me the best part of £1000 to fill it up - yes really!! I think it would be prudent to have some kind of security on it. I have heard that oil theft is on the up. Does such a thing exist and where can I get one?
Thanks in advance

Scenic_Route

Hi there,

I've no idea how to make your tank more secure but could you tell me if one fill lasts a year and how big a house you are heating? I'm trying to work out how much I'll need to account for financially for a years oil

thanks

SR

Happy2Help_2

Take a look at the following as a possible solution.

http://www.securitypark.co.uk/security_article261693.html

moonrakerz

Happy2Help wrote: »

Take a look at the following as a possible solution.

http://www.securitypark.co.uk/security_article261693.html

First post and he's recommending a commercial product !

Hmmmmmmm !

MX5huggy

Can you fit a padlock to it? and may be some security lighting in the area. Is the tank easily accessable? Near road etc is it visable from the road?
Maybe ask the local police crime provention team for advice.

amtrakuk

I was talking to a friend last night who was saying people are having to take measures to protect their fuel oil. Made me think when I lived in the country and we had oil fuel. Thinking back we didnt even consider anyone syphoning out fuel oil but I guess it is a valuable commodity these days.

We had a metal tank when we had oil, from what I can see alot are now plastic, I guess a large metal enclosure that makes ALOT of noise when you remove it, poss paddle locked to the floor with large sunken bolds?

TankMaster

thriftypants wrote: »

Hi, I have a Titan oil tank. Now it is costing me the best part of £1000 to fill it up - yes really!! I think it would be prudent to have some kind of security on it. I have heard that oil theft is on the up. Does such a thing exist and where can I get one?
Thanks in advance

Okay if it is a reasonably modern Titan oil tank - there'll be two access points. The first is an inspection cap, which is about 4" diameter; the second is a fill point which is about 2" diameter. The Inspection Cap will already have an eyelet on it, through which a padlock can be placed.

The 2" cap is however, not lockable. I've been ordering and fitting these for my customers - 2" Lockable Oil Tank Fill Point Assembly. Its not just a lockable cap, instead it is a complete replacement fill point assembly.

They are probably best fitted by an Oil Tank Technician - heck I would say that, wouldn't I? But if you have a large enough wrech or adjustable spanner, it is reasonably easy for someone who is reasonably proficient in DIY.

Hytek advertise a straightforward lockable cap - but I've yet to find anywhere that actually stocks it and unfortunately even as a tank installer, they will not supply me direct :rolleyes:

Regards

TM

Snow_Dog

Bolt a swivel chair to the top of it, purchase a 12 bore and sit up there. Sorry, it just made me think of an old Jasper Carrot joke about getting rid of moles.

Seriously though, you can buy PIR lights that also have an output that you can wire to an alarm inside the house (eg a doorbell type). If you cant see the tank easily the little cameras and portable monitors are pretty cheap nowadays (£60 ish I think).

That way if its the middle of the night and the alarm goes this means the light will be on and you just need to turn the hand held monitor on, if there is anyone there phone to police immediately.

One step up from that would be IP CCTV cameras which can do the same thing, turn on lights alarms etc as well as record. EG https://www.stn-systems.co.uk

TankMaster

Snow_Dog wrote: »

Bolt a swivel chair to the top of it, purchase a 12 bore and sit up there. Sorry, it just made me think of an old Jasper Carrot joke about getting rid of moles.

Seriously though, you can buy PIR lights that also have an output that you can wire to an alarm inside the house (eg a doorbell type). If you cant see the tank easily the little cameras and portable monitors are pretty cheap nowadays (£60 ish I think).

That way if its the middle of the night and the alarm goes this means the light will be on and you just need to turn the hand held monitor on, if there is anyone there phone to police immediately.

One step up from that would be IP CCTV cameras which can do the same thing, turn on lights alarms etc as well as record. EG www.stn-systems.co.uk

Good advice there... also this article may prove of interest to some people which also mentions CCTV systems, together with several other useful and pretty much commonsense tips on how to secure a tank.

http://www.tankdepot.co.uk/articles/117,1/index.htm

Regards

TM

TankMaster

Perhaps this is the device you'd heard about?

I've spoken with my tank supplier and they are apparently chasing up - any updates and I'll post them here

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/latestnews/Farms-and-homes-hit-by.4288236.jp

I've also heard that another 2 companies are looking at alarms that should be coming out over the next few months as well. But back to the cap issue, I agree - it will deter the opportunist, but not someone whose tooled up and makes their money from stealing fuel. That said, for various reasons - someone who is tooled up is unlikely to try and take oil from the fill point anyway - there are much easier ways to get oil from a tank.

The fundamental problem with oil tanks in the UK, is twofold. Firstly, they tend to be single skin in the main. In most other EU countries they are bunded i.e. a tank inside a tank and much more difficult to get into. Secondly, they are also bottom outlet - so no matter how well protected the tank is - a hacksaw is all it takes to drain the fuel from the oil supply line. In mainland Europe, again most tanks are top outlet and an anti-siphon valve tends to be fitted at time of installation - so getting oil out is seriously difficult.

Additionally and unique to the UK, many metal tanks in the UK have historically had a sludge valve fitted to them - a quarter turn and you're in business, which is like issuing a written invitation to have you fuel stolen

I know Harlequin Oil Tanks a few years back, tried to encourage top outlet tanks with anti-siphon valves, but they had little success. The tank was actually cheaper than a bottom outlet tank - but the installation perhaps cost £50 more - and people simply wouldn't pay it

Regards

TM

BigAl3400

Hello, you might want to try this website.oildefenders.com. I think their alarm is wireless, dectects if the filler or inspection cap is lifted off and if the oil level starts to go down quickly.