A ROGUES gallery of petrol thieves has been released by police investigating 90 drive-offs in recent weeks.

Police said they were investigating whether the increase in incidents was linked to an organised crime gang.

Officers said the drive-offs involved ‘ordinary-looking’ larger cars which had stolen number plates.

In the first 18 weeks of this year, 90 instances of petrol theft were reported to officers in Blackburn, Darwen, Ribble Valley and Hyndburn.

At some garages thefts have tripled so far this year.

Now eight CCTV images of people involved in a series of the drive-offs in Blackburn, Darwen and Clitheroe have been issued in a bid to stamp out the problem.

The average cost of the thefts is £70 — a total of £6,300.

A spokesman said the thieves specifically targeted pumps in the corner furthest away from attendants, often using cars with larger tanks.

One petrol station has been so badly affected by the number of drive-offs they have been forced to install CCTV cameras.

A spokesman for the Texaco Garage, in Dill Hall Lane, Church, said: "The problem has become so bad our bosses have forked out a fortune for cameras.

"Even having a forecourt assistant hasn't deterred some thieves. Since Christmas the number of drive offs has tripled. We have put it down to the recession but if it gets much worse I don't know what we will do."

Waleed Ahmad, who works at the Shell garage in Rising Bridge, said they had also experienced problems.

“We have drive-offs but we have tried to lessen the number by introducing a ‘pay first’ system after 8pm as the thefts mainly happen in the evening. It seems to be working.”

Officers hope they will be able to identify the people involved through the cctv.

PC Lee Richardson from Blackburn Police said: “We are committed to tracking down thieves who fill up and drive off from service stations.

“We operate Forecourt Watch across Blackburn and other areas to create a closer link between police and retail staff to increase awareness, prevention and the reporting and recording of incidents.

“From January 1 until May 13 Lancashire Police have had 90 incidents where it has been reported that drivers have made off without payment in Eastern Division.

“The theft of fuel has a significant impact on consumers, retailers and the police.

“Research also shows that ‘drive-off’ offences are often linked to offenders or vehicles involved in other types of crime as well as to disqualified drivers, those without insurance, road tax or MOT, and vehicles using false or altered number plates.

“I would urge people to take a close look at the CCTV images and if anyone recognises anybody pictured I would urge them to get in contact.”

Lancashire Police can be contacted on 101.