In response to the escalating incidence of fuel thefts, police services throughout New Brunswick have ceased investigations unless public safety is compromised. The New Brunswick Association of Chiefs of Police communicated this change to regional petroleum retailers, citing the need for more efficient approaches to combat the issue. Association President, Chief Gary Forward, advocates for provincial legislation mandating prepayment for fuel purchases, similar to measures implemented in Alberta and British Columbia. Such regulations, Forward claims, have effectively curtailed fuel thefts in these provinces. The association’s efforts to persuade the provincial government to introduce such legislation have continued for the past year, motivated by a tragic incident in British Columbia where a gas station employee lost their life while attempting to prevent a gas-and-dash theft. The shift in police approach and the push for prepayment legislation underscore the need for effective measures to address the ongoing problem of fuel thefts in New Brunswick.