Drive-offs at London filling stations have risen sharply, imposing substantial losses on independent owners. One business owner in Romford, east London reports losing 30,000 over four years to drive-offs. Industry research shows drive-offs rose from 7.6% of crime per site in 2020 to 28.4% in 2024, with the most incidents reported in the capital. Met Police FOI data record more than 14,000 making-off-without-payment offences in the capital since 2020, about 2,000 at stations in Ealing, Enfield, Hayes, Thamesmead and Camden. Frustrated by limited police action, some owners are installing ANPR and AI-equipped CCTV to read plates, match DVLA records and flag mismatches.
The fourth generation Shell garage owner Goran Raven says the problem was eating into his profits, costing him thousands of pounds. "It's had a real substantial impact on the business. In the last four years we've lost 30,000 due to drive-offs," he says. "People see the Shell sign but we're actually a fourth generation firm that have been selling Shell fuel since 1929. "Any losses from this station fall to me, I make those losses not Shell."
Research from the British Oil Security Syndicate shows that in 2020 drive-offs made up 7.6% of crime per site. This figure has increased to 28.4% in 2024 - with the most incidents being reported in the capital Data from Met Police Freedom of Information requests show that more than 14,000 making off without payment offences have been reported in the capital since 2020. About 2,000 of those took place at filling stations in Ealing, Enfield, Hayes, Thamesmead and Camden.
"We've got a CCTV system that's got an ANPR capability on it," says Mr Raven. "So it reads number plates on the cars. On top of that, it uses AI in the background. The cameras look at the car and say, yes, that's a red Fiesta and it's filling up with unleaded. "Once it has that information it then contacts a DVLA database and matches the information up. If the information is correct it just rolls through, nothing happens."
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