A 59-year-old man has been charged after being accused of targeting a farmer at a property near the Queensland-NSW border.
He allegedly drove onto the Yelarbon property and siphoned 1000 litres of diesel from the farmer's fuel storage unit into a container sitting in his trailer.
Footage released by police show an officer entering a property and quizzing the man about the missing diesel as they stand next to a ute with a container in a trailer.
"I came to check up on you ... looks like you've been up to be bit of mischief," the Queensland officer said.
"I got to take you back to the station and have a yarn about it ... about 1000 litres of diesel ... is any of it left?"
"No," says the man.
The man was located at a Yelarbon property on Monday after "assistance from the local community", police said.
He was charged with stealing and was due to appear in the Goondiwindi Magistrates Court on April 22.
"Fuel is not a luxury for our farmers - it is essential to keeping machinery running, crops and livestock tended and livelihoods afloat," Queensland Police's Inspector Kelly Hanlen said.
"This type of act shows a complete disregard for the hard work and challenges faced by those who help put food on our tables."
Farmers have been urged to protect their fuel supplies by keeping them in out of sight secure areas, installing lighting and cameras, keep accurate records, be alert to suspicious activity and report any thefts to police.
It came as a 36-year-old man was arrested for a string of fuel thefts across Adelaide totalling more than $12,000.
Up to 20 petrol station drive-offs had occurred, mainly in the Northern District, from December 28 2025 until Tuesday.
The driver of a silver Mazda SUV would either fill the car with unleaded fuel or put diesel in a tank at the rear of the vehicle before taking off, police said.
"The diesel thefts were of large value with many being over $1000 per incident," South Australia Police said in a statement.
The man was driving with unassigned or cloned plates at the time of the offences, police said.
The Mazda was located along with other registration plates at a Two Wells residence on Tuesday night.
The man was arrested for three counts of theft and bailed to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on May 29.
"Investigations are continuing and further charges are anticipated," police said.
"These thefts were not opportunistic or a one time occurrence.Â
"They were deliberate and calculated in their endeavour to commit these thefts and hide the identity of their vehicle."
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