Bowser bandit accused of racking up $8,000 in string of fuel thefts used fake plates to evade police for months

By KYLIE STEVENS, SENIOR BREAKING NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 00:02, 29 May 2026 | Updated: 00:04, 29 May 2026 An alleged bowser bandit is accused of stealing $8,000 worth of fuel across Adelaide. Police were called to a service station in Angle Vale on the city's northern outskirts on Thursday following reports of a motorist attempting to driving off without paying for petrol. Officers spoke to the man allegedly involved at the scene.  'Further investigations subsequently linked him to a series of make-off without payment offences across the northern suburbs and Adelaide Plains,' a South Australia Police statement read. Police allege the man used three vehicles to steal more than $8,000 worth of fuel at service stations in Virginia, Angle Vale and Lower Light over the last seven months. Officers later executed a search warrant at the man’s Lewiston home, where they located the vehicles allegedly involved in the petrol run-offs. They included a Kenworth prime mover, Isuzu truck, and Holden sedan, which all allegedly displayed unassigned number plates. Police located three vehicles (one pictured) allegedly involved in the petrol run-offs at the man's home Two trucks and a sedan were allegedly used to steal more than $8000 worth of fuel at service stations across Adelaide The vehicles were seized to be forensically examined by police.  The Lewiston man, 51, was charged with multiple counts of making off without payment and various traffic offences.  He spent the night in custody and will appear in Elizabeth Magistrates' Court on Friday. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.