Woman in Pyjamas Wanted for Alleged Fuel Theft
Police are seeking a woman, reportedly dressed in pyjamas, in connection with alleged fuel thefts at two petrol stations in Gwynedd, north Wales.
CCTV footage from Garej Ni in Pwllheli and Prysor Service Station in Trawsfynydd appears to show a woman filling a silver car with fuel and leaving without payment, according to police reports.
The incidents reportedly occurred over the Easter period.
North Wales Police stated: "Officers are investigating a series of thefts from various retailers across the western area of the force."
Mari Elin Jones, owner of Garej Ni, described the event, saying:
"I was working at the garage on [Easter] Sunday and I noticed someone filling up a silver car, and the next minute they were gone.
I didn't understand exactly what had happened at first, but fortunately we have cameras everywhere.
I looked back at the footage... the woman had pulled the hood of her coat over her head and was wearing pyjamas, and the car was parked quite far from the pump, which is quite unusual as well.
It's becoming expensive just to get around now, and we have to be careful because people might become desperate," she said.
"It might be an idea to have someone working at the pumps to fill customers' cars."
Judith Troughton, owner of Prysor Service Station, reported a similar incident on Easter Monday, where someone allegedly filled a car with £50 worth of diesel and left without paying.
She commented:
"I think it's awful, to be honest. It's hard enough to make a living without things like this happening," she said.
Fuel Price Context
Recent figures indicate that UK petrol prices have increased by 18% since the beginning of March, coinciding with the onset of the US-Israel conflict involving Iran.
The motoring organisation RAC noted that a temporary ceasefire in the Gulf region has halted the rise in petrol and diesel prices after 43 consecutive days of increases.
