Police took two persons into custody for stealing petrol and diesel from the tanker lorries meant for petrol bunks.

Realising that there was shortage of fuel being delivered in the official tanker from Irugur, a bunk owner Kandasamy followed the tanker meant for his bunk this evening. He noticed that the tanker carrying 4,000 litre petrol and 8,000 litre diesel, instead of going to the bunk in Chinnavedampatti, went to a lorry depot at Mudalipalayam, police said.

Kandasamy caught red handed when the two were removing the fuel and filling in a tempo at a place owned by one Prabhakaran, they said.

On information police from Sulur rushed to the spot and took the duo into custody and seized the tanker lorry, the tempo and some barrels filled with diesel.

The driver and another person managed to escape.

According to Coimbatore District Petrol Dealers Association President, Rajasekar, the workers, allegedly in collusion with some officials at the loading centre, were involved in removing 200 litres from one load, resulting in heavy loss to the owners.

In a release Rajasekar urged both the Centre and State government and also police department to take steps to prevent such activities and protect the dealers.

Investigations are on whether the staff of oil companies are involved in this theft, even as the incident was brought to the notice of authorities.