OIL raiders have struck again in the Forest, this time targeting a 78-year-old pensioner who can ill afford to lose his only means of home heating.

The latest raid, in Pastor's Hill in Bream, is the second in the area in the last few weeks, and police are investigating whether the incidents are linked.

"It's likely that more than one person is involved," said a spokesman.

Last month a woman reported that around £2,000-worth of oil had been drained from the tank in her garden in Viney Hill. She only disdovered the theft when she found she had no hot water or heating.

In the Bream raid the offenders stole oil worth around £450 from a tank in the victim's front garden.

It is believed the offence would have been carried out any time between 11pm on Saturday March 24 and 6am on Sunday March 25.

Gloucestershire police are urging people to be vigilant. The price of heating oil has soared in the last year and in the last few months in particular, making it a valuable and attractive target.

"Theft of heating and diesel oil has been a problem for many years and the police have always noticed an increase in this type of crime whenever the price of crude oil rises," states police advice on the subject.

"A rise in the price of fuel at the petrol pump inevitably leads to a rise in the cost of heating oil. This makes oil a more attractive proposition for the thief and they are now actively targeting fuel tanks at farms, transport depots and domestic properties. The thief may be using the oil for their own central heating or selling it on at a handsome profit.

"These tanks can contain many thousands of pounds worth of oil and it therefore it makes good sense to take a few precautions to protect them."

Details of security measures for oil tanks, including where to position a tank and devices that can be added to make them safer, can be found at the crime reduction section of http://www.gloucestershire.police.uk">www.gloucestershire.police.uk

Anyone with information about the Bream raid is asked to call the new non-emergency number 101, quoting incident 176 of March 31.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org">www.crimestoppers-uk.org