With a slow economy thinning out Americans’ wallets and high energy prices foreshadowing an expensive winter, a new criminal trend is emerging: heating oil theft.  A handful of cases have been reported since last winter, with new incidents in Mount Pleasant, PA, Brockton, MA, Sherrill, NY, and Jefferson, NH occurring in just the last two weeks.

Heating oil theft is a relatively new crime, according to most law enforcement officials, but one that will most likely to be seen more and more often as heating oil prices stay high.  “We’ve seen cases of firewood being stolen, but this is the first theft from a fuel tank,” said State Police Trooper Matthew Favreau, referring to the case in Jefferson, NH, and quoted in the Union-Leader.  “Given the fuel crisis and the economy, this probably won’t be the last one we see,” he added.  Heating oil theft is a crime that is difficult to pull off.  Thieves have to accomplish the long and possibly loud feat of siphoning or pumping the oil out of storage tanks without being noticed by residents or neighbors.  It appears likely that the need to operate without being seen or heard is the reason most of the thefts occur in rural and/or sparsely populated areas.  Homes and other buildings with above-ground tanks located outside and/or easily-located oil valves are particularly vulnerable.

To prevent heating oil theft, authorities have recommended heightened vigilance around tanks and valves, valve locks, and surveillance cameras.  Although the thefts are quite rare, heating oil consumers should be aware that they are occurring, and should be on the lookout for any suspicious vehicles near oil tanks in their neighborhood.

This summer two separate bills, H.R. 6321 and H.R. 6473, were introduced to the House of Representatives. Both bills, if they became law, would provide relief from high energy prices and supply problems for residents of the Northeast.

H.R. 6321 (also called the “HEATR bill of 2008″), introduced by Rep. John McHugh (R-NY), would provide a tax credit to individuals and families to the tune of $500 or 33% of one year’s energy costs. The credit would be limited to households making less than $100,000 per year.

H.R. 6473, introduced by Rep. Paul Hoades (D-NH) would require the Secretary of Energy to sell off heating oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve under specific circumstances: (1) if a major disruption in energy supply occurs, and (2) if the retail price of heating oil reaches $4.00 per gallon

Both of these bills are still in the first phase (”introduction”) of the legislative process, and may not even move beyond the committee phase to be voted on by congress. If one or both of the bills did become law, however, they would form a nice safety net under HEAT USA members and others who rely on heating oil to keep warm during the winter. The Heat Zone will keep track of both bills when and if they move through the legislative process.