MOTORISTS in Flintshire have been urged to make sure they pay when filling up, after police confirmed a rise in the number of people making off without payment at petrol stations.

The call came from Flintshire South Sergeant Emma Prevete on Tuesday afternoon.

She said: "This is an increasing trend of making off without payment from fuel stations - possibly as a result of the fuel price rises and the cost of living.

"We have also had a few technology issues, where people are presenting their cards and think they have paid when they haven't - or they just go in and forget to pay.

READ MORE: The most common places in Wrexham and Flintshire where people leave without paying

"I'd encourage people to pay at the pump so that your card and payment are authorised before you take fuel, or just try to make sure your payments have gone through.

"We're finding people are getting annoyed and confused when we phone them at their registered address for the vehicle because some think they have paid.

"To avoid police having to make an enquiry when it's a genuine mistake, please make sure your payment has been authorised before you leave - then there's no confusion."

The Leader reported in June on Freedom of Information figures obtained from North Wales Police, which revealed how many offences of making off without payment were reported to the force each year from 2017 to date in Flintshire.

From the beginning of 2017 to mid-May this year, 925 such offences were reported in Flintshire - the majority (679) of which related to petrol stations alone.

Sgt Prevete said: "If people keep doing this collectively across the UK, I think garage owners may start to increase the prices of fuel further to accommodate those losses.

"It also takes up police time which could be used dealing with different matters - and it ties up the staff at the garage as they are having to report it.

"We will seek prosecution where people are being intentionally dishonest and not paying.

"In the long run, it doesn't pay."