More people are wasting money on anti-theft devices as fuel theft skyrockets, the BBC has reported.

According to a report by the BBC, the amount of victims of fuel theft has increased by 50 per cent in the UK during the past five months.

The BBC warned car insurance customers that most insurance policies do not cover fuel theft or the damage caused to the fuel tank.

The report stated that although insurers should provide cover broken petrol caps and damaged fuel tanks, car owners are faced additional problems as insurers are in no hurry to introduce cover for fuel-theft victims.

Car insurance customers are therefore left investing in safety anti-lock devices to avoid potential burglars damaging the petrol tank.

However the report suggested it would be cheaper to “leave the petrol tank unlocked” as thieves may still be able to fight anti-lock devices, which would result in the car owner to fork out additional costs in repairing it.

Mr Steven Summers, of Gloucester, a victim of fuel theft found that his fuel tank had been damaged after thieves drilled into it.

Yet Mr Summers’ insurance did not cover the costs of a new fuel tank as according to the report, “theft from the interior of the car by breaking in” does not cover it as is it on the exterior.