'Stolen bus fuel sold on for €0.50'

POLICE in Marseille have arrested a gang accused of stealing thousands of litres of fuel from a bus depot over three years - and selling it on at a makeshift petrol station for less than half the retail price.

La Provence reports that four men have been arrested on suspicion of setting up an illegal fueling station at a garage in the city suburbs, which soon attracted a regular customer base with prices at just €0.50 per litre.

Among those arrested is reportedly a security guard at a city bus depot, where the thieves are alleged to have turned up every evening at 23.00 in a small van and siphoned off 1,000 litres of fuel a day.

Marseille public transport operator RTM eventually became suspicious to the disappearing fuel and found out about the daily operation through CCTV footage. The company estimates the loss at €450,000.