10,000 litres of diesel stolen from three Calgary Mobil stations in weeks

Thieves have stolen roughly 10,000 litres of diesel from three Mobil gas stations in Calgary over recent weeks, tapping directly into underground tanks in an operation that caught the fuel distributor off guard.

The three thefts targeted stations operated by BG Fuels, a Canadian wholesaler that runs locations under the Mobil, Esso, and Waypoint Convenience brands. The first theft netted approximately 8,000 litres, followed by a second of roughly 50 litres, and a third of about 2,000 litres. The total loss to BG Fuels is approximately $20,000.

Sam Babcock, BG Fuels territory manager in southern Alberta who oversees 28 gas stations across the region, said the scale is unprecedented. "We've never seen this. Never across the country as well. At least in my time here, I've never experienced anything like this," Babcock said. The first theft involved a truck arriving around 4 a.m. at a closed station and remaining for roughly 25 minutes.

Based on surveillance footage, BG Fuels believes the same perpetrators carried out all three thefts. The incidents have left station staff anxious: "A lot of them have come at nighttime to check in on their sites. They can't sleep," Babcock said.

Sergeant Nick Wilsher with Calgary Police Service's crime prevention team said thefts of this magnitude are unusual. Smaller thefts involving siphoning fuel are more common. "It's not a victimless crime," Wilsher said. "Those costs are passed on to you as the consumer." He recommended retailers increase security with improved locks, tamper-proof alarm systems, and expanded video surveillance.

Calgary Police Service is investigating. No arrests or suspects have been named, and police have not announced specific dates for when the thefts occurred.