LORRY drivers are becoming easy prey for fuel thieves and hijackers.
That's according to a driver who witnessed one of a spate of late-night lorry attacks in the county in a matter of days.
Martin O'Brien, 49 from Birmingham, said he was awoken by the desperate pleas of a Romanian lorry driver after his vehicle was ambushed by thieves.
The incident happened at midnight on Wednesday, at a lay-by near the Cotswold Water Park on the A417 at Middle Duntisbourne.
Two hooded offenders attempted to remove diesel into plastic drums from the fuel tank of the Renault truck via a lockable filler cap.
But, while they attempted to remove the fuel, they were disturbed by the vehicle's driver and ran off.
The driver stashed the drums before the perpetrators returned several minutes later.
On their return, they attacked the victim, causing him minor injuries.
Mr O'Brien said: "I had parked up in the area because I thought there would be safety in numbers. I heard banging at my door and my first thought was someone was trying to hijack my lorry.
"When I realised what was happening, I got onto the phone to the police straight away. The thieves had roughed him up a bit and we then went to the station to give a statement.
"This can be an unsafe job but I thought I was parked in a safe area. Now, I have told my boss that, if I am delivering valuable goods, I will only do it if I can park up in a secure location."
Police have launched an appeal for information after a spate of thefts of diesel in the area.
Another incident between 7pm on Tuesday and 5.40am on Wednesday at a lay-by on the A417, which resulted in £300 of fuel being stolen.
Another incident happened at 1.15am on Tuesday at a lay-by on the A417 at Granny's Pumps, near Syde.
Anyone with any information should call Gloucestershire police on 101, quoting incident number 39 of May 15.