Tienen – Cebenax, a transport company operating in Tienen, has fallen victim to thieves for the third time, with losses totaling 1,500 liters of diesel. Manager Kristof Benaid has expressed growing frustration and financial strain despite implementing additional security measures, including cameras, reports 24brussels.
According to reports from VRT News, the recurring thefts have severely impacted the company’s bottom line. Benaid states that he has filed police reports after each incident, but there has been no progress in identifying the culprits, raising serious security concerns within the industrial zone.
Benaid has experienced a direct confrontation with the thieves during one of the break-ins, where despite his efforts to intervene, they managed to escape before law enforcement arrived. “They just ran away,” he recounted, highlighting the disruptions these thefts are causing for a business that heavily relies on diesel for operations.
Why are thieves targeting Cebenax and other companies in Tienen?
The thefts have not only disrupted Cebenax; neighboring businesses like De Watergroep have also faced similar burglaries, with thieves reportedly stealing valuable metals such as brass and copper that are easy to resell. Benaid has taken precautionary steps by enhancing security with more cameras and motion detector lights. However, the persistent threat looms as intruders have demonstrated resourcefulness, cutting holes in fences and disabling lights to avoid detection.
“De Watergroep, the company next door, has also been burglarised several times,”
explains Benaid.
“The thieves made off with brass and copper, valuable metals that are often resold.”
Furthermore, a separate case in Belgium highlights the issue of diesel theft, as a man was sentenced to 15 months in prison and fined €400 for stealing hundreds of liters from trucks in 2023. The stolen fuel was discovered at his residence and connected to several thefts, with the court mandating he compensate the affected haulage companies by €5,700. These instances underscore the escalating problem of fuel theft within the logistics industry, raising concerns for business operators striving to maintain their operations amidst ongoing threats.
