TODAY’S suspect is wanted by police after fuel was stolen from petrol stations across the county and a car was set on fire near Oxford Crematorium.

The suspect captured on CCTV is the latest on Thames Valley Police’s Christmas wish list to be revealed in the Oxford Mail’s Badvent calendar.

The campaign sees suspected fugitives named and photographed in the paper every day in the hope readers will come forward with information.

Police want to interview this man over three “bilkings” – drivers stealing petrol from garages – where cloned number plates were used.

A blue Audi Coupe was stolen from a driveway in William Lucy Way, North Oxford, on September 3, and used to steal petrol three times.

At midnight on September 4, a thief took £56.85 worth of unleaded fuel from a petrol station in Woodstock Road, Oxford, before sticking two fingers up at CCTV cameras and driving away.

At 1am the next day, a man dispensed £58.07 of fuel from a garage in Oxford Road, Bicester, and again gestured at the CCTV camera as he drove away.

Then at 4.20am that day, £30.26 of unleaded fuel was stolen from a service station on the A40 by Eynsham.

The Audi was later found on fire near the Oxford Crematorium in Bayswater Road, Barton, at 6.50am.

Investigating officer Pc Samaire Gorman, from St Aldate’s Police Station, last night appealed for the public’s help in tracing the suspect.

She said: “If anyone recognises the male in the photo or has any information regarding any of the offences, please call 101 or Crimestoppers.

“Whoever did this showed he had no regard for the law and, with the gesturing at the camera, this is one crime we would love to solve.”

Anyone with information should call Pc Gorman on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

l Day 13 burglary suspect Daniel Collins has been arrested, police said last night.