Abstract: An anti-theft system and method prevents access to and theft of fuel or another material in a container such as a tanker or intermodal container with upload and/or download assemblies. The anti-theft system includes a respective lock for each upload and download assembly, at least one control unit that operates the locks, and a computer program that operates the control unit. The computer program is operated by a user using a workstation to enter commands for the computer program to send signals via a communications network to the control unit to lock and unlock the locks. In a typical embodiment, the locks are provided by electromagnetic locks with an electromagnet base and an armature plate lock, and a satellite network is used for communications in remote or hostile areas.