<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/yelarbon-man-charged-with-stealing-1000-litre-diesel/95b253b1-63b2-4a57-a2fe-c7c7d08b812f" rel="" target="_blank" title="Petrol theft"><span>Petrol theft</span></a><span> is spiking at service stations across Australia as the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/fuel" rel="" target="_blank" title="fuel crisis"><span>fuel crisis</span></a><span> drags on but a simple tool could be the key to help detect known fuel thieves and deter others from trying.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>SenSen.AI's </span><a href="https://www.scancam.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Scancam"><span>Scancam</span></a><span> system involves little more than a camera and an iPad that can be set up at just about any servo.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Professor Subhash Challa, founder and chief executive of SenSen.AI, said it has returned $2 million in stolen petrol debt to fuel retailers in the last quarter.</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>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-17-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/d7652f60-9d6d-4fc3-b566-b0df27fb328f" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump renews criticism of Australia</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Most of them get more money back than what we charge for the system," he told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And we have seen a significant uptick in people taking up the technology in the last few months."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Have you got a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter Maddison Leach at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:mleach@nine.com.au" target="_blank" title="mleach@nine.com.au"><strong><em><span>mleach@nine.com.au</span></em></strong></a></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-crisis-petrol-theft-ai-camera-prevents-stealing-at-the-bowser/1ab5e9fb-0a4b-4abb-b14a-3468092f6531" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About one in 10 servos with a Scancam system installed it in the last two months, signalling a growing concern from retailers about fuel theft.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Thefts have soared by up to 50 per cent since the fuel crisis started, according to the Australian Association of Convenience Stores, and prevention is tricky.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But not every servo can afford the new tech deterring thieves in a cost-of-living and fuel crisis.</span></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/A8tIPUPP7thQzdj-C6sO2MWNo8g=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2026%2F04%2F766872%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Scancam is designed to deter petrol thieves by flagging known offenders when they pull up to a bowser.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Its cameras detect and scan a vehicle's license plate, then alert servo operators via an app if the vehicle is linked to unpaid debt from fuel theft.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Operators can request the driver prepay for petrol to prevent potential theft.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If the driver asks why they must prepay, operators are instructed to hand them a card directing them to contact Scancam and resolve their debt.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>SenSen uses AI to handle calls about unpaid debt to protect human staff from abuse.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We do get phone calls in customer support that are very aggressive," Challa said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Modern AI tools handle that extremely well ... they sound human, but they don't get upset."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If fuel theft does occur, operators can log a report and evidence in the Scancam app, which will send a police report and email to management.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Every report must be signed by a human operator before it's logged.</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/uk-reportedly-preparing-for-food-shortages-from-iran-war/44aaade5-d036-4928-8264-21bfed115f70" target="_blank"><strong><span>UK wargaming food shortage scenarios as Iran turmoil extends</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Scancam will then pursue offenders to collect the debt, which is returned in full to the service station where the theft occurred.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Once the debt has been settled, the motorist will be removed from the Scancam 'known offenders' list and will no longer be asked to prepay for fuel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Privacy concerns</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Because the technology relies on number plates, drivers who have not stolen fuel may still be flagged as 'known offenders' if they try to fill up in a vehicle someone else committed fuel theft with, including shared or second-hand cars.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, limiting the data Scancam's system collects to just number plates may help with data privacy concerns.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Privacy breaches happen when you link the number plate to a person's name, address and location," Challa said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A random number plate, on a random car, on a random road or random petrol station, which is a public area, is not privacy risk."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Servos with Scancam systems installed also post signage alerting customers that their number plates may be scanned for safety and security reasons.</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/ben-roberts-smith-accused-war-crimes-bail-application/4c5f748b-245e-4a2f-9ce9-218bc168aba7" target="_blank"><strong><span>Accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith to seek freedom</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/ieMO66vQC_q0THllMapo8pJMBIs=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2026%2F04%2F766659%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About 600 locations across the country already have the system up and running, many of them major servos like Ampol and BP.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The result, according to SenSen, is a 60 per cent repayment rate for stolen fuel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But many smaller chains and independents can't afford the tech, even if they're being targeted by petrol thieves.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Scancam operates on a subscription model with pricing ranging from $45 per month up to $350 per month, plus installation costs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>SenSen is currently offering the software free for up to six months if retailers sign up and pay for installation before the end of the 2026 financial year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For some servos already doing it tough, the cost is still too high.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We want have it in every [servo] so that known offenders simply have no option but to either prepay or comply with the business," Challa said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Fuel prices are a pain for everybody, economic stress is a pain, but it doesn't give you a right to go steal for someone."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's not a silver bullet solution to petrol theft in the midst of the fuel crisis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But when some opportunistic motorists are </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/yelarbon-man-charged-with-stealing-1000-litre-diesel/95b253b1-63b2-4a57-a2fe-c7c7d08b812f" rel="" target="_blank" title="making off with $3000 of fuel from family-owned servos"><span>making off with $3000 of fuel from family-owned servos</span></a><span>, some retailers will do anything to deter thieves.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div 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