Gardaí are warning homeowners to secure their home heating oil after reports of theft around the country as prices increase dramatically.

The warning follows several reported thefts across many counties over the past week.

Gardaí say home and business owners that they should put some preventative measures in place to avoid being targeted by thieves.

More than 1.5 million households in the Republic of Ireland are heated with heating oil or kerosene, according to the price watchdog oilprices.ie.

On Deise Today this morning (Wednesday) Sgt Peter McConnon who is Crime Prevention Officer for Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford, spoke to Damien about the problems.

He also gave some advice to listeners on how to protect themselves from being the victims of such thefts...