Thief soaks up Coasters' fuel

The community-owned Karamea Information and Resource Centre on the West Coast is smarting after the theft of more than 600 litres of petrol.

An emergency fuel tanker delivered 3000 litres on Monday last week. Soon afterwards a further 100 litres was added as a precaution for the higher demand from visiting whitebaiters.

When the tanks ran dry two days later, the centre ordered tests to make sure a clerical error had not occurred.

Instead, they found that three 20-gallon drums of 91 petrol - around 273 litres and valued at $1100 - had been stolen.

A spokeswoman for the centre said the theft was a blow to the community group, which had struggled to retain a fuel supply in the area.

"We all feel like we've been kicked in the guts. We were lucky enough to have one of the local people go through [to Westport] and pick up some fuel in his own time."

If it had not been for the extra supply, the centre would have run out of fuel before the next delivery on Monday, and that would have left a lot of people stranded.

Westport police are investigating.

- NZPA