Italy sees surge in diesel theft from trucks

Criminal gangs are increasingly targeting diesel in trucks parked at unsupervised sites across Italy. A transport‑company CEO from Piedmont reported a rise in incidents, linking the wave to soaring fuel prices. The thieves use specially equipped vans and universal keys to drain tanks in minutes, often while drivers rest in rest areas or near autogrills.

The most serious case occurred in May in the province of Alessandria, where five trucks were emptied. Stolen fuel is then sold on the black market at a discount of 30‑40 cents per litre, feeding a broader smuggling network that draws diesel from Slovenia, Germany, Russia and North Africa. Italy’s Customs Agency and Finance Police are investigating the illicit flows and hidden depots.

Industry representatives call for tighter surveillance of parking zones and anti‑theft caps on fuel tanks, arguing that price stabilization could curb the crime.