New Brunswick Police Shift Focus, Urge Prepayment Legislation for Fuel Thefts
Amidst rising concerns over fuel thefts, police officers across New Brunswick have announced a shift in their approach. Investigations into such incidents will no longer be prioritized unless a threat to public safety exists. This decision, communicated by the New Brunswick Association of Chiefs of Police in a letter to petroleum retailers, recognizes the need for more effective strategies to address the ongoing problem.
The association’s president, Chief Gary Forward, emphasized the potential of prepayment legislation in curbing fuel thefts. By requiring customers to pay before filling up, as is the practice in Alberta and British Columbia, this measure has proven highly effective in reducing the incidence of gas-and-dash thefts in those provinces. Chief Forward cited the tragic death of a gas attendant in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, as a key motivator behind the association’s advocacy for similar legislation in New Brunswick.
Over the past year, New Brunswick’s police chiefs and the RCMP have actively engaged with the provincial government, urging the implementation of pay-before-you-pump legislation. This shift in police approach and the continued push for prepayment regulations underscore the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to tackle the ongoing issue of fuel thefts in New Brunswick.
