For the quarter that just finished, Nigel Locke received a bill four times his usual amount.

He said there are no leaks and no reason for the usage to have increased, apart from someone taking advantage of a tap in a secluded location to fill up large containers.

"It's a battle-axe block and you can hide a vehicle in there," Nigel said. "But it's theft, you can't just take water like that."

He's spoken to both council and the police but was told they could not do anything without evidence, which is why he's looking at setting up video surveillance.

"I understand people need water and in some cases they might be desperate," he said. "If they came and asked I might say yes."