<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Thieves have siphoned petrol from bushfire-stricken farmers in Victorian communities as the fuel reaches a cruel new low.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sarah Thomson and her husband Ross awoke yesterday to find the tanks on their Ruffy property had been squeezed dry.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Around 400 litres of diesel and 100 litres of unleaded had been siphoned from the tanks, which the sheep farmers use to power their farm vehicles.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/us-israel-iran-war-qantas-changes-flight-routes-australia-to-europe-middle-east-conflict/47ca0551-1c70-4938-8046-04fbab7074e5" target="_blank"><strong><span>Qantas makes changes to Europe-bound flights as conflict rages on in Middle East</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's incomprehensible really, that someone could drive in here, trespass for a start, but onto an area that's been burnt and steal fuel from us while we're trying to rebuild after this fire," Sarah said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple's land was hit by the deadly Longwood fire that devastated the region in January.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 1850 sheep were killed or had to be put down and 1500 acres of the farm was scorched.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/double-blow-for-victorian-community-as-thieves-target-farmers-for-fuel/0dee920f-16e8-4ed8-bb53-f31be874d126" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sarah and Ross are now working to restore 18 km of fencing around the farm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's bone dry and we can't do what we need to do without fuel," Sarah said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our business runs on fuel, regional Australia runs on fuel."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/april-one-financial-changes-australia-2026-private-health-insurance-energy-rebate-mortgage-rate-explained/144c4981-2270-48be-8661-bc6ef8b33ec4" target="_blank"><strong><span>Aussie households set for triple-whammy bill price hike next month</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police have issued alerts about possible fuel theft in the regions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nearby Euroa is also feeling the sting from delivery surcharges passed on to business customers as a result of skyrocketing fuel costs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our customers are struggling but we're doing our best to support them, but there will come a point when it's no longer sustainable for us to absorb it," Euroa IGA owner Tim Burton said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Local MP Annabelle Cleeland urged the government to cut the fuel excise immediately, fearing Victoria could "grind to a halt rapidly".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Right now we're seeing supply shortages right across regional Victoria and this is going to disrupt the supply chain," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're going to see supermarket products become extraordinarily expensive on the shelves in Melbourne if we don't give a break to regional Victorians."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all 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