Jerrycans

[paulllambert]

Don't know if this is the best section to post in......my neighbour has a number of jerrycans (I'd guess 20 litres or so) full of fuel stored in his garage. I was passing his house this morning, as he was taking one from the boot of his car and putting it in his garage. It's not the first time I have seen him do this, and I couldn't believe it when I saw he had about ten or twelve stacked against the wall. I was wondering if there was a limit to how much fuel can be stored in a residential area. There must be a health and safety issue here, surely?

[twofeathers]

http://www.fireservice.co.uk/safety/fuel-storage

[Graham-W]

The Law says:
Storage of fuel at home or the workplace (unless specifically licensed) is restricted by law to either metal containers with a maximum capacity of 10 litres or approved plastic containers of a maximum 5 litres capacity. These containers should be designed for the purpose and must be fitted with a screw cap or closure to prevent leakage of liquid or vapour.
Petrol and diesel fuel should be stored in no more than two 10 litre metal containers or two 5 litre plastic containers. They should be clearly labeled as to their contents.

I suspect he is buying diesel cheaply from truck drivers and suchlike or possibly red diesel from some agricultural supply.
Either of the above is illegal, but do you want to make an issue of it when you live so close to the neighbour?

[paulllambert]

Thanks guys. Seems it is rather excessive. Yes, Graham, he is a truck driver, and yes, I'll probably bite my lip. He is a really obnoxious twerp (in my opinion), full of "look at what I've got", "look at my big this", "think we'll have four holidays this year, instead of the usual three".........I'm not bitter, honest!! I shouldn't really worry, as he lives in a detached property, so will likely only damage his own place if the whole lot goes up. Thanks again.

[Peter Pedant]

I am sure there are restrictions
however if it goes up - if he is the only person likely to barbecue himse;f
then I would leave it

[hc4361]

Report him anonymously to Crimestoppers. He's breaking the law in more way than one

[paulllambert]

So tempting hc4361, so very tempting.

[Peter Pedant]

no dont report Paullie - leave crimestopper for the really important crimes like 'my parking space is being parked in - by my mother in law '
or: 'I heard a noise last night and I am pretty sure it wasnt the dog '

[hc4361]

He's either stealing fuel, buying stolen fuel or buying red diesel for a purpose it's not intended for. All offences in their own right, the storing of it is an additional offence.

I'd tell the council as well.

[paulllambert]

All done, hc............online too, so I didn't have the chance to get all tongue-tied, or "bottle it" on the phone.
I've never considered myself a "grass", but what the hell, you are so right...........it has to be dodgy.

[hc4361]

Good for you.

[Arrods]

Good for you - but do be very careful. If he does get caught, he'll be on the lookout for whoever tipped off the authorities.

[hc4361]

He won't have a clue so don't worry about it.

[EDDIE51]

Crimestoppers is totally anonymous, not even the operators can know who made a report. I would take a very heavy bet that he is stealing the fuel from his truck, theft and a safety issue. Do you know who he works for? I would email his employer and say something like
'' Your driver, Mr Joe Bloggs is using his shed as a fuel store for his truck, I object to this as it is a fire hazard to my property, please arrange to store the fuel in your own depot''
In other words do not actually accuse him of theft .

[ELVIS68]

I'd have had a word with him about it instead of grassing on him

[Nibble]

Elvis, read the thread...... It's not "grassing", its paulie not wanting to have hisneighbours garage embedded in his house after the fuel blows up.

[RATTER15]

When I ran my mobile home on used chip oil I often had 10 jerry cans full of chip oil in my garage, all within the law. Maybe he is doing the same.

[EDDIE51]

Yes Elvis there are over 200 litres of fuel in there if that lot goes up it will damage both houses. From the answers so far it looks very unlikely he would listen to a 'quite word' anyway.

[EDDIE51]

Ratter, chip oil used or not counts as food or food waste not as fuel!

[paulllambert]

Thanks for all your input, good people. To clarify, by "neighbour", I meant he lives "in the neighbourhood"......he lives about five doors away. Eddie, I believe he is self-employed, as he does most of his work (collecting and delivering HGVs) on trade plates.....you sometimes see these blokes at the side of the road, thumbing lifts, carrying a red/white number plate. It is my suspicion (I may be totally wrong), that he is syphoning fuel from the trucks he delivers and storing for his own use. I don't think it likely that he would find out who shopped him, as there seems to be any number of people he has upset in one way or another. Thanks again.

[ELVIS68]

So you're grassing on him not because of the risk to your property but because you don't like him?