A man is wanted by police after taking fuel from Northampton petrol stations without paying on at least 20 separate occasions.
Northamptonshire Police believe the thief is using stolen number plates on a number of cars to disguise his identity.
He then discreetly inserts the fuel nozzle into a container in the back seat, which he fills up and then drives off without paying.
A spokeswoman for the force said: “So far officers have connected a series of at least 12 thefts of petrol, eight thefts of diesel and 14 offences of stolen number plates.”
The offences are often committed between 5pm and 7.30pm, with sometimes two petrol stations hit in one night.
In at least one of the offences, it is believed that a woman may have been assisting him.
The man is described as white, 6ft tall and stocky, with short dark hair that appears to be greying, between 25 and 45 years of age, and always wearing a green sleeveless body warmer.
He is seen driving a red Fiat Brava/Bravo, a silver Vauxhall Astra estate, or a red/burgundy Vauxhall Vectra Hatchback.
Police have identified him at the following times and places:
Friday 30 November 2012, Morrisons Kettering Road, 7.00pm
Friday 7 December 2012, BP Harborough Road, 7.00pm
Monday 10 December 2012, BP Harborough Road, 7.00pm
Monday 10 December 2012, Kingsthorpe Motor Co. Harborough Road, 7.20pm
Monday 10 December 2012, Morrisons Kettering Road, 8.20pm
Wednesday 12 December 2012, BP Abington Avenue, 5.25pm
Thursday 13 December 2012, BP Abington Avenue, 5.25pm
Thursday 13 December 2012, Morrisons, Kettering Road, 7.30pm
Monday 17 December, 2012 Morrisons, Kettering Road, 1.25pm
Monday 17 December, 2012 BP Harborough Road, 6.00pm
Tuesday 18 December, 2012 Morrisons, Kettering Road, 6.00pm
Tuesday 18 December, 2012 BP Abington Avenue, 6.20pm
Thursday 20 December, 2012 BP Harborough Road, 7.00pm
Thursday 20 December, 2012 BP Abington Road, 7.30pm
Friday 21 December, 2012 BP Abington Road, 5.10pm
Friday 21 December, 2012 Morrisons Kettering Road, 5.35pm
Tuesday 22 January, 2013 BP Abington Avenue, 5.20pm
Tuesday 22 January, 2013 Morrisons Kettering Road, 7.15pm
Thursday 31 January, 2013 Morrisons Kettering Road, 7.00pm
Thursday 31 January, 2013 BP Abington Avenue, 7.05pm
Witnesses or anyone with information, can call Northamptonshire Police on 101 Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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