Petrol station crime in the UK costs nearly £50 million a year and could lead to an increase in the cost of fuel to motorists. A good proportion of this crime wave sweeping the country's forecourts includes drive offs – people driving away without paying for fuel, which makes up nearly a quarter of money lost to the industry via crime. The penalties for this offence include a fine, a possible prison sentence, and the likelihood of having to pay compensation to the garage and the costs of the court.