Lincoln County officials are investigating the theft of 500 gallons of diesel fuel and warning farmers to take precautions.

Someone stole the diesel recently from a farmer who had a fuel tank sitting in his field.

Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer said diesel thefts are become more common in rural areas, so farmers need to protect their fuel.

Kramer said farmers should consider locking up their tanks or disabling the pumps when farmers are not near their tank.

Kramer said if a farmer can easily transfer fuel to their equipment, then a thief can easily transfer the fuel to a portable tank.