THIEVES stole £1,000 worth of heating oil from a home in rural Dorset.

Around 1200 litres of oil were taken from a residential oil storage tank belonging to a home in Poyntington, North Dorset.

The theft happened sometime between December 16 and 18.

Following the incident police are advising residents to keep fuel tanks locked up and alarmed where possible and consider installing tanks within secure building or cage.

Police said residents should also consider installing anti-siphon devices, check their oil levels regularly and install motion sensing CCTV and lighting

Anyone with information can contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk/do-it-online or by telephoning the Dorset Police non-emergency number 101 and quoting Dorset police occurrence number 55190198565. If a crime is in progress dial 999