Bromyard'S joint-beat manager, PC John Bridges, has warned that an organised gang of fuel thieves is operating in the area and targeting not just lorries but private cars as well.

He said "professionals" had carried out the recent spate of fuel thefts.

"If they are cutting feed pipes, they know what they are doing. There has been a spate of incidents over a week or two. Fuel is readily saleable," he said.

PC Bridges said an "organised gang" was probably to blame, and he pointed in particular to the thefts of diesel, which have occurred on the Linton Trading Estate, and elsewhere.

In the most recent incident, between 3pm on April 24 and 7.30am on April 26, £55 worth of diesel was siphoned off from a Dodge HGV lorry on the Linton Trading Estate. Thieves also made off with a heavy-duty battery, worth £40.

Between 1.45am and 10am on Friday, April 21, diesel thieves struck twice at the trading estate. Ten gallons of fuel worth £35 was taken from a Mercedes lorry and 20 gallons, worth £70, from a coach.

The gang has also targeted private cars recently.

Between April 23 and April 28, a Vauxhall Astra parked at Flaggoners Green had its fuel pipe cut. Only £10 of petrol was taken but £100 worth of damage was caused to the car.

Overnight, between April 28 and the following day, a Volkswagen Polo parked in Sherford Street had its fuel line cut. Around £20 worth of petrol was stolen. Damage to the car was again put at £100.

Petrol thieves cut the pipe of a Vauxhall Astra which was parked in Old Road, Bromyard, between April 17 and the following day. Damage to the car was put at £60. Around £11 worth of petrol was taken.

PC Bridges said:"If anyone sees anyone acting suspiciously around a vehicle, call the police at the time it is happening. It could be we would catch them red-handed. We don't mind false alarms."

He revealed that there had been cases recently where incidents of suspicious behaviour had only been reported to the police the following day.