IT seems the temptation of filling up before paying became a little too much for this man, who allegedly left the Matilda service station with $80 of unpaid fuel at 12.50pm yesterday.

The dark-haired, bearded man rolled into the servo in his silver Ford Ute with no front number plate and his rear one hidden by a mat.

Servo owner Gina Kerr said despite the newly installed cameras, people were still stealing petrol.

"It happens about once a week," Mrs Kerr said.

"We spent $10,000 on cameras last week and we still can't win because they're taking their plates off.

"It pisses me off big time. That's $80 of fuel I have to pay for," she said.

The CCTV footage showed didn't seem like an accident, with the man jumping into the car and speeding off before closing his driver's door.

"He knew what he was doing. You can see he's done it intentionally," Mrs Kerr said.

Employee and witness to the theft Di Scotney said the man had seemed suspicious from the beginning.

"I knew he wasn't quite right. I was watching him and he jumped in and sped off. He didn't look inside once," Mrs Scotney said.

"I don't know why they think they can get away with it when there are cameras.

"These sorts of people should be heavily fined," she said.

Sergeant Peter Gray of Warwick police said those caught stealing petrol were usually given the option to pay the money back or were charged with stealing.

"Nine times out of 10 they pay and often servos are happy for them to do that," Sgt Gray said.