Watch out

7 June 2023

Did you know? Number plate scanning technology is most likely in use when you pop into your local servo to fill up.

It might seem a bit ‘Big Brother’, but there’s a good reason for it.

Service stations rely on this technology to detect cars that have been linked to fuel theft cases – and protect their businesses accordingly.

Once console operators are alerted to such a vehicle, they can simply switch off the pump. The driver will be required to prepay for the fuel, or, if that is not possible, turned away. One application is called Auror, which involves the use of CCTV and automated number plate recognition technology, but there are others. 

Auror number plate data is shared between Victoria Police and a network of registered service stations. 

It sounds fair enough to me. 

After all, fuel theft costs the Australian industry millions annually. It’s stealing – plain and simple.

And to think, in Victoria, before 2018, fuel theft was treated as a civil matter, rather than a crime. 

Prior to the change, police had a long-held policy position of rarely acting on reports of theft.

On the topic of technology, earlier this year there were reports of some service stations taking matters into their own hands by identifying unregistered vehicles and then refusing motorists trying to fuel them up.

The decision by some to enforce this no-service policy is an individual business decision, but retailers should consider the complete story. 

For instance, vehicles may show up as ‘unregistered’ even when registration has been recently paid – it’s just the system hasn’t caught up.  

In my book, this type of technology is best used to help retailers – the businesses which literally keep Australia moving – prevent fuel theft.

Words: VACC CEO Geoff Gwilym. As featured in Herald Sun Friday 9 June 2023