Police are suggesting motorists pay in advance

The fuel thieves are costing petrol station operators tens of thousands of pounds every year and wasting police time, a police spokesman said.

More than 11,000 drive-offs were reported across the East Midlands in 2003.

Police have suggested petrol companies ask for money before fuel is sold to help reduce thefts.

Assistant Chief Constable Peter Ditchett, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "It is totally unnecessary - the petrol companies could change this overnight by having motorists pay for their fuel in advance."

Hitesh Mehta, of Fosseway Service Station in Stragglethorpe, Nottinghamshire, said: "It costs us about �15 to �20 a drive-off and we lose a lot of money.

"I get very angry when there is a drive-off and I sometimes run after them if the car is still on the forecourt, but there usually isn't much we can do about it."