<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As pain at the petrol pump pushes drivers to breaking point, others are allegedly breaking the law by filling up and taking off without paying.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One man has even been accused of siphoning hundreds of dollars of diesel from a parked truck in Sydney's south-west.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Petrol theft is up between 10 to 50 per cent across the country, adding even more pressure on supply.  </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/fuel-crisis-australia-businesses-urge-government-to-decrease-heavy-vehicle-road-user-charge-tax/5f06eb9d-5118-48a6-a82f-c83968c3db60"><strong><span>Radical push to slash $3b tax to keep Australia moving</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A petrol station in the inner west suburb of Petersham is among those seeing a rise in drivers resorting to desperate measures. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Once again we're asking people to make sure they're thinking about their neighbours and not taking more than they need," Transport Minister John Graham said today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In Milperra, in the city's south-west, one man was allegedly caught red-handed by a member of the public, who then detained him and called police. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-petrol-prices-driveoffs-surge-as-pain-at-the-pump-increases/a74299b9-5bd9-49c1-aee1-654184549470" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 43-year-old is accused of siphoning fuel from a truck into a large tank in the back of his van. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was charged with stealing and will face court next month. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The owner of the truck said about $1500 worth of fuel that was allegedly stolen. Police made the alleged thief siphon it back in before driving off.</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/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-march-29-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/91899f37-9654-4f9d-a68a-43487e732a29"><strong><span>Inside the talks that may turn the tide of bloodshed</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In NSW, 66 petrol stations have run dry, 229 are out of diesel and 371 have just one type of fuel left. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The consumer watchdog is fielding thousands of complaints about prices every day and calls are growing from unions and other groups to make public transport free to alleviate some of the pain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victoria and Tasmania have done so and fares in Queensland were already just 50 cents before the US and Israel attacked Iran, which responded by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz through which 20 per cent of the world's oil flows.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the NSW government is standing firm against making public transport free, flagging it needs every dollar to prepare for the crisis to deepen.</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/nsw-weather-dangerous-swell-causes-havoc-across-coast-as-monster-waves-hit-sydney-beaches/57c9d6e0-0692-4ec0-8952-9c552a665095" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Incredible scenes as monster waves smash coast</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"At the moment our consideration is how can we make sure there are enough services to make sure people have that option of a cheap train fare compared to the expensive car ride," Graham said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>" … I have to be really clear about this, this situation will last more than a month. We need to keep our powder dry to assist the broader economy."</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 platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>