The man and a female passenger stopped at the Caltex Service Station at about 9.30am last Friday and put a little more than 30 litres of diesel into their van.

However, before making any attempt to pay the $63 to the owners, the man drove off.

One of the station owners witnessed the theft and set out to intercept the van. He pulled up at the intersection of London Road and the Western Highway, preventing the van from proceeding any further.

He then reached into the van and removed the keys, before calling police. Police attended immediately to speak to the male driver and his passenger.

As a result, the male was arrested and bailed to appear in the Stawell Magistrates Court charged with theft and unlicenced driving.

The van was taken back to the Caltex where the diesel was raised onto a hoist and the diesel recovered from the tank.