This is the moment a group of alleged thieves took a young boy on a petrol station raid in broad daylight – as fuel prices soar across the UK due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Footage shows the group of three men pulling into a garage in Blandford Forum, Dorset, in a van towing an orange wood mulcher.
They can then be seen climbing out of the vehicle before heading into the shop with a small child in tow.
While some of the group distracted staff, another man grabbed two cartons of AdBlue fuel additive and loaded them into the back of the van.
Moments later, the alleged thieves and the young boy jumped back into their vehicle and drove off without paying.
The incident is believed to have happened at Damory Garage on Monday morning.
The business shared footage of the alleged theft on Facebook with the caption: ‘Nothing like a little AdBlue theft to start the day.
One member of the group can be seen in the footage grabbing two cartons of AdBlue fuel additive and loading them into the back of the van
The small child accompanied the group of men into the shop at the garage in Dorset
The incident is believed to have happened at Damory Garage in Dorset on Monday morning
‘These guys decided our AdBlue was “buy one, get it all for free”.
‘They must’ve been in such a rush to get to their next wood chipping appointment. Ten out of ten for the teamwork fellas.’
Locals reacted with horror on social media. One person said: ‘I wouldn’t let them within a hundred yards of my tree. It would disappear.’
Another added: ‘Getting their own back for the rip off fuel prices.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Dorset Police for comment.
The alleged theft comes as drivers across the UK continue to be hit hard by high petrol and diesel costs.
Prices are currently running at their highest levels since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Britain’s last known shipment of jet fuel from the Middle East is also nearing the UK.
The consignment on the Libyan-flagged Maetiga vessel is expected to reach the UK from Saudi Arabia on Thursday, according to data providers Kpler and Vortexa.
No other tankers bound for the UK have made it through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked in response to the US-Israeli strikes.
Jet fuel was $4.24 (£3.21) a gallon last Thursday, compared with $2.50 (£1.89) just before the first US-Israeli strikes on Iran, according to the Airlines for America group.
Aviation analyst Alex Macheras said the US Jet Fuel Index was up 72 per cent in one month since the war began, which was ‘massively outpacing even Brent crude’s rise’.
About 40 per cent of Europe’s jet fuel comes via the Strait of Hormuz, which is nearly completely closed. The UK receives supplies direct from the Middle East while additional supplies come in indirectly, especially via Belgium and the Netherlands.
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Industry experts now fear the supply issues could have a major impact on airlines from the end of next month if the Iran war continues.
Meanwhile, the boss of Asda last week warned that petrol supplies on its forecourts are ‘tight’.
Allan Leighton, executive chairman at the supermarket chain, said: ‘Supply is tight and we are all trying hard on that.
‘The issue is a temporary one, and some could see issues when we are waiting for delivery, and we can expect to see that continue.’
An Asda spokesperson added that all forecourts are receiving ‘normal fuel deliveries, and sites are operating as usual’ – but warned that pumps may be briefly unavailable while being refilled due to the additional demand.
There are currently no signs of Tehran easing its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, despite Donald Trump saying negotiations to end the war are ‘going very well’.
Experts believe the fallout from the war will last for months even if Donald Trump ended the war immediately and the Strait reopened.
