Huge uptake in bid to stop Creggan oil thefts

Colrs. Colly Kelly and Kevin Campbell.Colrs. Colly Kelly and Kevin Campbell.
Colrs. Colly Kelly and Kevin Campbell.
More than 100 households in Creggan have signed up to an initiative designed to thwart home heating oil thieves.

The initiative is managed by Derry City and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP).

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“This initiative has been a great success with over 100 homes getting oil locks and nearly 50 bin locks,” said Sinn Fein Councillor, Colly Kelly.

“I was contacted by a number of residents just before Christmas who had home heating oil stolen from their homes in the Rinmore Drive, Creggan Heights and Oakfield Park areas of Creggan.

“It’s absolutely despicable that people would do something like this and it caused a bit of fear in the locality due to the frequency of these incidents,” added Colr. Kelly.

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Colr. Kelly explained why the PCSP wanted to focus particularly on the Creggan area and urged anyone interested in receiving one of the free oil locks to get in touch.

“There’s a high level of older people who live in these areas of Creggan and it precisely because of all these factors that we teamed with PCSP to put a stop to these thefts,” said Colr. Kelly.

“If you or someone you know is concerned about becoming a victim to oil thieves you can now contact the PCSP and they will arrange for someone to visit your home and install a security lock to your oil tank. The lock and its installation are completely free of charge.”

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Chrissy Deane was among the first group of people to receive the free lock and said it has given her peace of mind.

“Before I got the oil lock installed I used to only fill the tank with small amounts of oil but now I am able to order more.

“The lock makes it much more difficult for anyone trying to access the oil tank. The possibility never goes away but the chances of me having my home heating oil stolen are much smaller,” she added.

Telephone Derry City and Strabane PCSP on 028 7137 6565.

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