It is alleged more than 500 litres of fuel was taken. Photo: Rural Crime Prevention Team – NSW Police Force.
A man has been charged with stealing more than 500 litres of fuel from a rural property near Griffith.
Police will allege 544 litres of fuel, with an estimated value of nearly $1100, was stolen from a fuel bowser on a property in Hanwood, in 11 acts between September 2025 and February 2026.
At about 7:35 am on Monday (16 February), Rural Crime Prevention Team officers attended a rural property on Kidman Way, Tharbogang.
They arrested a 58-year-old man and he was taken to Griffith Police Station. He was charged with 11 counts of larceny with a value less than or equal to $2000.
He was granted conditional bail to appear in Griffith Local Court on Wednesday 18 March.
Detective Chief Inspector Cameron Whiteside from the Rural Crime Prevention Team is encouraging more landowners to come forward and report crimes.
“Fuel theft is one of the highest underreported rural crime offences that is having a significant impact on rural landowners. The biggest challenge for police, is that rural landowners are not reporting these matters,” he said.
“The Rural Crime Prevention Team wants to work with rural landowners to focus on areas that are being targeted by thieves stealing fuel from rural properties. Often criminals that steal fuel are committing other crimes in your area. To ensure the Rural Crime Prevention Team can target these offenders, police need to be aware of the crime or any suspicious activity.”
There are several ways to report crime:
- Call or attend your local police station
- Call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444
- Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
- Report online via the Police Community Portal –
- In the case of an emergency, call triple zero.
There are also resources on the NSW Police Force internet site to assist with reporting stock theft and fuel theft.
Surely if solar farms routinely contaminate agricultural land this would be well documented. Does… View