Last week was not my best. Having not had any similar issues for many years, on Monday my car was broken into (side window smashed) in a public car park in Birmingham and an iPod and headphones stolen (iPod was tucked under passenger seat), then on Tuesday night the house was burgled - completely unrelated.
Nothing much went from the house - my work laptop bag with laptop and work accessories (including my other set of headphones!), my wife's handbag, they stepped over a laptop (probably didn't see it!) but the biggest item was my wife's 11 reg Fiesta.
Police were great on the day, SOCO came and took dabs etc. On Thursday I got a call at work from the police - they had recovered the car and my bag, and had two in custody, and needed me to go an ID my bag so they could detain them longer with a view to charging them.
So I went straight in and IDd my bag. Apparently the same villains had burgled two other house nearby and stolen another car nearby, also 6 burglaries in Maidenhead, about 10 miles away were down to them. Thy were caught because someone reported seeing them transferring goods between one car and another early in the morning and reported it.
I heard from the police by email that the CPS decided to not bring charges in relation to our burglary, but charged them for three of the Maidenhead ones. I suppose they had no firm evidence linking them to our house.
So two aspects are a bit annoying - one being the overhead of it all, given that there is virtually nothing to claim - 3 excesses totalling £275, numerous phone calls and time and the general inconvenience, but more irritating is that we are still waiting for return of the car and my bag. Mr Plod said they may want to do forensics so that's why they'd hold them, which is fair enough I suppose, but he couldn't give me an answer when they'd be released. Must also be racking up a daily bill for car storage with Ontime. SWMBO also didn't like the interrogative tone of the calls with the insurance companies - said she felt like she was the villain.
Anyway, it wasn't the best of weeks, but I do have a shiny new iPod...
|
Firstly, thans bad news, you have my sympathy
>> I heard from the police by email that the CPS decided to not bring charges
>> in relation to our burglary, but charged them for three of the Maidenhead ones. I
>> suppose they had no firm evidence linking them to our house.
>> calls and time and the general inconvenience, but more irritating is that we are still
>> waiting for return of the car and my bag. Mr Plod said they may want
>> to do forensics so that's why they'd hold them, which is fair enough I suppose,
Welll don the old bill for nabbing them BUT - No its not fair enough. If they are not charging them in relation to your burglary, you want your stuff back at once. Its either involved or not, they cant have it both ways.
|
|
Sorry to hear about you'r misfortune last week Smokie.Son in law's fence was broken into a few days ago,they where after a rotavator he hired for the day.Then two days later again the same thing.We've done a few things to stop them in the future I hope it hurts when they have another go.
|
>> I hope it hurts when they have another go.
>>
So do i, and say nothing should the poor little dears complain/claim.
|
Oh double bad luck. Sorry to hear it.
But don't assume they won't get evidence. Going back a few years my step-son had his car broken into on New Year's Eve outside the house.... must be more than 6 years ago. The police turned up for evidence collection on New Year's day and we were all (including them) thinking there will be nothing. Blood found on the door and a few week's later matched to someone known to the police. And they got done for this and a few other crimes.
But that's not good to have the car broken into and then the house. Little in the house cannot be replaced. Photos/videos is one. Which is why I should upload to the web. As of today I've bumped up Dropbox storage to about 74GB for free for 24 months. I suppose I should look at using that first.
|
I'm very sorry to hear of your misfortune, Smokie. Bad enough that your car was broken into on Monday, but to have your house burgled the following day must have been horrendous.
|
I've experienced a couple of burglaries.
Throw away all opened bottles of spirits, notably those with a yellow/brown colour - whisky, brandy etc.
Check carefully for any 'deposits' left behind. Although they tend not to nowadays due to DNA.
Last edited by: bathtub tom on Wed 21 Nov 12 at 10:02
|
>> Throw away all opened bottles of spirits, notably those with a yellow/brown colour -
You have to wonder what sort of creature would stoop to what you allude to, sounds like the antics of those still getting round on all fours.
|
Sorry to hear that Smokie. Similar thing happened to me many years ago when I was a penniless student. One week my car was broken into and they nabbed my anti-social speakers (see why I was penniless!) and then a couple of weeks later I was burgled. They took everything (stereo, computer, CDs, etc) but my alarm clock and, funnily enough, my record deck. I'm not exaggerating...
I wasn't insured at the time, more fool me. Police not interested at all.
Without TV, stereo or computer I spent a lot of time at the public library just for something to do!! :)
|
>> Sorry to hear that Smokie. Similar thing happened to me many years ago when I
>> was a penniless student.
Similar student days story here. One day my Ford Orion was nicked from outside my house whilst I was at work in a pub, and it was used in an armed robbery which the Police had to question me about when I got home. Then, a few days later, I was in bed one morning (loft room in three storey Victorian house) when I was awoken by my bedroom door being opened suddenly, by a large person unknown to me who was doing the place over. I shot out of bed and chased him down the stairs, he shot out of the front door (which had been jemmied open - I had not heard a thing) and jumped into a waiting van, which had been loaded with all my housemates' stereos and the like. Leaving me standing on the pavement of Lenton Boulevard, Nottingham, in nothing but my scuddies.
My "fight or flight" response obviously went in to "fight", which is a bit alarming, as I'm not exactly the best prepared person in the world to get in to a punch up. I experienced this again a couple of weeks ago, when I was awoken at about 3 in the morning by my dog barking and a scuffling noise from the front of the house. There was a guy (unknown to me) lurking around my front door, who, when he saw me charging down the stairs in my jammies (clear glass panels to the sides of my door), actually started ringing the doorbell and rattling the letterbox. Having ascertained that the guy wasn't injured, nor in any kind of trouble (no-one else about, no cars crashed outside the house, not a sausage), I picked up the phone in the hallway and showed him I was dialling 999. By this time the wife is at the top of the stairs having a nervous breakdown, and one of the children is with her, terrified. After about 7-8 minutes of this character continually ringing the bell, making gestures to me through the glass, and periodically banging his head on my door, a patrol car turns up. They talk to him, then bundle him in to the car, and I open the door to speak to the male hoccifer (he'd left a female colleague in the car with the geezer). He tells me that the bloke is drunk, has just been thrown out of a localish house party, is lost and randomly chose my house as a good place to harass. At this point the geezer starts shouting, swearing at the female copper and the male one has to go over and help restrain him.
Scary stuff, and my little boy now won't go anywhere in the house on his own after dark, and is utterly terrified of walking past the front door or even going near a window. I would like to get hold of the bloke and give him the complete and utter pasting he deserves, but the police haven't charged him with anything and obviously won't give me his name and address.
Last edited by: VxFan on Sun 16 Dec 12 at 18:16
|
>> Scary stuff, and my little boy now won't go anywhere in the house on his
>> own after dark, and is utterly terrified of walking past the front door or even
>> going near a window.
I'm not surprised, *I* would be terrified after that! Poor lad.
>> I would like to get hold of the bloke and give
>> him the complete and utter pasting he deserves, but the police haven't charged him with
>> anything and obviously won't give me his name and address.
>>
I would argue that the bloke clearly needs help, but then I'm too much of a bleeding heart type. Actually... if he'd turned up at my door step again.... ;)
|
>> SWMBO also didn't like the interrogative
>> tone of the calls with the insurance companies - said she felt like she was
>> the villain.
>>
Standard practice, I am afraid. Assume the customer is a fraud until proven otherwise. The "loss adjuster" will then do his/her utmost to find a loophole not to pay anything and if that fails will do the utmost to minimise losses for his/her client (the insurance company).
The worst instances I have seen of this behaviour is in relation to deaths on holiday abroad. Some of them give the impression that they will not believe the death has occurred unless you show them the body and prove that it is that of the customer.
Enjoy your new replacement items, but be prepared to have to declare the thefts for at least 5 years with consequential higher premiums! In the meantime, there is a small chance the thieves will go to jail eventually, but even then will be out very quickly to start a new round of thefts.
Such is life.
|
>>Enjoy your new replacement items, but be prepared to have to declare the thefts for at >>least 5 years with consequential higher premiums! In the meantime,
Son's house was done 3 yrs back.
Was paying £400 house & Contents...........£1,000 goods taken and £400 damage to home.
Renewal was £800!!! 2 months later..........he phoned and asked if it was an Insurance Co OR Hire Purchase Company.....this was his 1st claim in 12 years. They backed down to £600..... it is now £450.
|
That's the annoying thing - in the end the ins co will cough up for not much - new locks (exorbitant costs) and a couple of hundred for a lost bag & contents, assuming it hasn't turned up. Fully expecting increased premiums for a few years though.
Likewise car- there won't be a claim if it' undamaged but I wouldn't be surprised if premiums go up.
Last edited by: smokie on Wed 21 Nov 12 at 15:17
|
The claim for my house fire was in the region of £125k.
My premium with Axa went up by about £150 which is just as well as I struggled to get a quote out of anyone else!!
Have you made any claims in last 5 years?
Yes
How Much?
£125k
Sorry we are unable to give you a quote online........
|
>> Such is life.
>>
Such is LOW life. Utter scum. Eradicate.
|
>>Such is LOW life. Utter scum. Eradicate.
Silly. They are doing their job and typically well.
|
"Such is LOW life. Utter scum."
I agree Martin.
Burglars, kiddy-fiddlers and people who never pay. They're all the same.
|
|
What's that from FM2R about?
|
>>What's that from FM2R about?
An inability I have for reading and understanding.
Ignore me, I'll get better eventually.
|
>I agree Martin.
Hey BBD. Where've you been lately?
Still got that poor Japanese excuse for an XJ?
;-)
|
Kevin!
Yeah still got the barge but it doesn't stir my loins.
Had a little problem with it over summer. I had it serviced ready for it's MOT. They told me it needed a radiator, it was on it's last legs. I never had to top it up at all so I wasn't sure, I know these garages invent problems but I agreed and they fitted a new one. It needed a rack and pinion steering thingy (that's another story) but I knew that and they fitted it. Drove it across Europe and had the MOT. Failed, and another advisory. It failed on the wheel locking nuts - the garage had forgotten to screw them back in and I had to buy another four. Monkeys. The advisory was the radiator - they couldn't see it because of all the coverings but it was leaking. So I was livid and I had to sort it, but it was only losing a couple of cm a day so I thought it would get me back to Warsaw. I had to meet a client in London, it was the day before the Olympics started and I got almost as far as Sloane Sq. I parked right at the gate for the Chelsea Pensioners. The AA van couldn't do anything temporarily to get me to a garage so they called a big tow truck. Guess how long? Five hours. Five hours. One two three four five hours. Parked in Central London and it took five hours to get a tow truck. Break down in Bodmin Moor - hardly surprising waiting 5 hours, but Central London? I had the kids in the car, no facilities, couldn't leave the car with Meter Maids wandering around and at the closest pub they insisted on buying drinks so the kids could pee. So yeah, I was seriously fudged off with almost everyone and missed a meeting. But a huge congratulation to the Chelsea Pensioners who chatted to me every single time when one walked past and raised my morale. Top chaps (and ladies).
So I now have a second brand new radiator, the knackered one is sitting in my garage with a 8-inch split (bottom, right area as you stand looking at the front of the car).
But when you ask where I've been lately Kevin... I broke my back - 3 Lumbars, L1 L2 L4 and 3 upper thoracics - that's another story, just don't wear socks on a polished wooden floor!
|
Mucho sympathy Bad Dave, my BiL comes home today from Kings College Hos.
One foot on the ladder - one foot on the kitchen unit = broke his back.
They tried a spinal brace thingamajig but, they had to operate in the end.
As my ole mum used to say "you never know what's around the corner".
:(
|
Mine are all compression breaks Dog, I must have fallen hard on my rear end.
At last I can walk around normally, but if I step funny off a curb or even just walk over a slightly dipped area of the garden - see a grown man cry.
It's another year before I work through the Kama Sutra again. But it's ok when my wife goes on top so long as she wears my cowboy hat.
|
>> It's another year before I work through the Kama Sutra again. But it's ok when
>> my wife goes on top so long as she wears my cowboy hat.
And digs the spurs in?
|
>>see a grown man cry<<
Been there :-(
>>It's another year before I work through the Kama Sutra again<<
And there :o)
|
>Yeah still got the barge but it doesn't stir my loins.
>Had a little problem with it over summer.
Time to get rid of it? There are plenty of high-spec X350s available at the moment although most of them are diesels. Ride quality isn't as good as the old X308 because of the aluminium bodyshell and silly tyres (the 19" P-Zeros are also £280 each) but it's still way ahead of german stuff and less wallowy that the Lexus.
>I broke my back - 3 Lumbars, L1 L2 L4 and 3 upper thoracics..
Ouch! I had a compression fracture of a single lumbar about 20 years ago. Probably the worst pain I've ever experienced. The fracture and the pain killers played havoc with the potty routine too.
>just don't wear socks on a polished wooden floor!
Chasing hookers around the bedroom again? Will you never learn?
;-)
|
Hi Kevin
I'm thinking about getting rid next Summer, just can't make a decision. I had it LPG conversion which cost just short of a grand but costs about 55-60p a litre. On my mileage it hit the break-even after about 10 or 11 months and after that it's just like running a Toyota Avensis (without the credibility).
But yeah, I'm XJ lover, I'm always checking out 4.2l X350s - there's plenty to choose from. The 430 is an ugly box bit the 460 has some style, I like them too. Decisions decisions...
I had a problem at potty time too, squeezing against a broken lumbar is most unpleasant. But your lungs rest against your thoracic vertebrates, you should hear me scream when I sneeze.
Hookers... Well the 460 has a 'Rear Entertainment' version - rear passenger seat reclines like a bed. Decision made.
|
>> The 430 is an ugly box bit the 460 has some style, I like them too.
Are you talking V8 Lexuses here BBD? If you are, what's wrong with ugly? All Lexuses are ugly except the small snorting-monster one, probably too uncomfortable for your purposes. I think the XJ is ugly too, although the XF isn't.
Sorry about your back injury. I had a badly bruised coccyx that hurt for months after a foolish attempt to get wheelspin on a pushbike on a frozen pond (but I was only 16 so healed in the end). But I can't help feeling that your massive, tumescent attributes, hanging out in front there without secondary support, swinging freely as it were, may be placing untoward twisting and shearing stresses on those compressed vertebrae and bruised discs. You may find that the right sort of small wheelbarrow or trolley to bear part of their weight could speed the healing process. Just a thought comrade.
Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Sat 24 Nov 12 at 18:08
|
"You may find that the right sort of small wheelbarrow or trolley to bear part of their weight"
Using my big leather office chair, two pillows and a reclining position gave me the supporting position to aid healing. And two useless old Epson printers stacked on top of each other under my desk allowed me to raised my legs up in a horizontal position. A box of tissues close by of course.
My Lexus is an ugly box (a big box and two other smaller boxes front and back) but it's the inside that matters. It pampers me. Relaxes me. It even massages me. Just like with ugly girls, when your eyes are shut 'ugly' is completely irrelevant.
Last edited by: BiggerBadderDave on Sat 24 Nov 12 at 19:03
|
>
>>Just like with ugly girls, when your eyes are shut 'ugly' is completely
>> irrelevant.
Yeah but at least you are not seen getting in and out of an ugly girl, and an ugly girl doesn't lights up in the dark.
|
>> My Lexus is an ugly box (a big box and two other smaller boxes front and back) but it's the inside that matters.
Quite. I'm sure they are comfortable, safe and go well. They are supposed to be strong and reliable too although perhaps you are now sceptical about that. As I said, what's wrong with ugly? Tony Soprano's jalopy of choice for a couple of series I seem to remember.
|
>Hookers... Well the 460 has a 'Rear Entertainment' version..
Vaseline compartment?
|
>> Hi Kevin
>>
>> I'm thinking about getting rid next Summer, just can't make a decision. I had it
>> LPG conversion which cost just short of a grand but costs about 55-60p a litre.
>> On my mileage it hit the break-even after about 10 or 11 months and after
>> that it's just like running a Toyota Avensis (without the credibility).
>>
>> But yeah, I'm XJ lover, I'm always checking out 4.2l X350s - there's plenty to
>> choose from. The 430 is an ugly box bit the 460 has some style, I
>> like them too. Decisions decisions...
>>
>> I had a problem at potty time too, squeezing against a broken lumbar is most
>> unpleasant. But your lungs rest against your thoracic vertebrates, you should hear me scream when
>> I sneeze.
>>
>> Hookers... Well the 460 has a 'Rear Entertainment' version - rear passenger seat reclines like
>> a bed. Decision made.
>>
You're probably the only person with a Lex 430 on GB plates and RHD at the moment in Warsaw. I think I even saw you once upon a time, begins with RE 03 and ends with FMD or FMO , right ?
|
Vincent, you're back!
Yeah that's me but you won't read the plates at the moment cos I'm not washing it till March. There is an identical one that I often see filling at the station near me. I was parked next to her at the pumps, and had a chat with her. She's a fanatical big Lexus lover and she is well hot. I should have given her a business card. And pumped her too...
Are you still a motor journalist? One of them got 3 years today for driving like a brainless donkey and killing his friend in a Ferrari in Warsaw. It's all over the news and some of his brains were all over the road, but the surgeons took a few months to glue him back together. Looking at the pictures, his mate looks well grilled. I'm glad he didn't invite any innocent motorists to the BBQ.
|
Yeah, I'm still around, though I'm sort of getting old I guess. I'm also sick of all those demonstrators with huge shiny alloys and rubber so thin you can barely see it. Don't get me wrong they look nice, but I've managed to bend a few on those potholes.
Besides, I don't really understand why modern suspensions are less comfortable than the old ones. I loved my friend's Peugeot 405 years ago, then came the 406 and I've to admit it was even better in that department, but then something got really wrong. The 407 became much more sporty and less comfortable and nowadays its replacement in the form of 508 is even worse. Same with Toyota Avensis and many, many more.
I've been thinking a big pickup truck from the States, for a moment because of its huge suspension travel or maybe something like Lincoln Town Car , Citroen C6 or Lexus LS-beast just because I prefer to waft. The first one , however , might be a nightmare to service due to the fact that it's from another world , the second one might be better I presume and the third one (namely the Lex) seems to tick all the boxes. As long as its comfy, that is. I've even found a nice one, check this out - www.max-mobility.de/component/expautos/detail/212/1/253/2265/auf-lager/Lexus-LS%20430
|
>> Besides, I don't really understand why modern suspensions are less comfortable than the old ones.
>> I loved my friend's Peugeot 405 years ago, then came the 406 and I've to
>> admit it was even better in that department, but then something got really wrong. The
>> 407 became much more sporty and less comfortable and nowadays its replacement in the form
>> of 508 is even worse. Same with Toyota Avensis and many, many more.
>>
Worth trying a C5 - after 3 trouble free years with mine I miss it. I get through a fair few hire cars each year, and nothing I've driven in the last 3 years comes close to the ride and comfort of the C5. Mine was a "baby" model so had lowly 16" alloys which may have helped.
|
Same Lex I had Vincent. Lovely beast. Cost me too much money to run, not in maintenance particularly but just fuel. If I could over that block and forgo a holiday a year I'd have another in a heartbeat.
|
|
Oh, I see... Now I know it's very nice and quiet, but what about the sheer ride quality ?
|
As long as it has the original factory size wheels and hasn't been fitted with stupid bigger ones later, then it will ride very nicely. It's very quiet, and there's very little noise in the cabin at motorway speeds, never mind lower. They did a version with air suspension too, which I didn't have, but I was very happy with the standard setup. The asp version was £2500 per corner if it went wrong though, be warned. Not, of course, that lexuses go wrong as a general rule.
Not perfect, no car is, but try one and see. Mega bargains all around me, beckoning, but then I remember a fill up would be well over £100 and I'd get about 25mpg, and I remember I can't afford those kind of numbers. My current Prius is not in the same league in most areas, but is still very pleasant, and to a miser like me an auto petrol five seater hatch with a fill up cost of well under £60 and mpg of 55 to 70 is the winner. That buys me something around 520 miles or so between fills.
But I miss the big Lex.
|
>> on Tuesday night the house was burgled - completely unrelated.
I dont believe in unhappy coincidence. I bet they are linked in some way.
|
Nah - can't think how. Nothing with personal details stolen from car, no personal details on iPod. And the chancers who committed the burglary were from miles from here.
Although I tend to agree with your thoughts, in this case there is no connection.
|
>> Nah - can't think how. Nothing with personal details stolen from car
Does it have a sat nav? Not unknown for a thief to press the Home button to find the car owners address.
|
Not unknown for a thief to press the Home button to find the car owners address.
>>
Set mine for an address a half mile up the road, and disabled route memory tracking thingy whatever its called.
|
|
Seems a bit of a coincidence for me too - but it's not as if the car was broken into near where smokie lives. And why target the house of the car owner? Now if they had keys and address from the car fair enough.
|
>> but it's not as if
>> the car was broken into near where smokie lives.
Exactly, they knew he was a long way away from home....
|
|
I see your point, but sometimes coincidences are just that.
|
|
could be, could be, but within 24 hours? my nose is twitching.
Last edited by: Zero on Wed 21 Nov 12 at 20:24
|
If the people that broke into the car were the same people that burgled the home, then one would have to assume that they were hunting around Birmingham, broke into a car, gained some advantage for house breaking a specific address, and then went to that home.
Simply finding the address is of no value unless you raced around there straight away knowing they were out.
If its the next night, what advantagecould have been gained from the car? Unless there were details of the house alarms or something?
Even if they had got the secret alarm code from the car, then by what coincidence did they also have advantage in the other burglaries?
So, the alternative to the concidence theory is that someone broke into the car in Birmingham, found something that would help break into a house 26 hours later, knew a group of Berkshire bruglars they could sell it to who also had bought some information on houses in Maidenhead from someone else.
I'm really going with the coincidence.
|
No SatNav in the car. Nothing in the car to link to home address. The iPod was almost under the passenger seat. I suspect it was the phone mounting bracket in the windscreen that got their attention. That's here because I have an Android app which records ahead on the journey. Used it once or twice only :-). But I now also use M8, a free Android satnav app which is pretty good.
The burglars weren't exactly local, and two other houses were done and a couple of cars nicked by them.
Coincidence for me too.
|
Mind you you are lucky in one respect. No-one has jumped on you for using the nasty american word "Burglarised", and spelling it wrong to boot.
The forum is refreshingly pedant free since Iffy upped his sticks and cleared off.
Last edited by: VxFan on Sun 16 Dec 12 at 18:15
|
|
If I was going going to be pedantic, which of course like Zero I am not, I would point out that theft from a car is not burglarising or even burglary. That a crime entails the breaking and entry into a building.
|
|
It should have been "Burglarized" as any ful kno.
|
|
One who burglarizes is however a burglarisator.
|
>> One who burglarizes is however a burglarisator.
Actually I think its Burglarist.
|
I should of course said "a burglarisationalist:. :-),
|
>> One who burglarizes is however a burglarisator.
>>
Doesn't he make my three quid coffee in one of those posh coffee houses?
|
|
No that a barista, an italian lawyer.
|
|
I set my home on Sat Nav to a colleague's house....tee hee.
|
|
I hope its not a female colleague and you lend your car to the wife.........
|
>> No-one has jumped on you for using the nasty american word "Burglarised", and spelling it wrong to boot.
Some of us thought of it, but not being pedants in the aggressive sense didn't mention it.
But you've done a U turn Zero. I can remember you pooh-poohing those who criticised intrusive Americanisms. You seemed to think they were rather a good thing, part of a living language increasingly and refreshingly free of spelling, grammar and all that sort of rubbish.
Could I possibly be wrong? I seldom am.
|
>>The iPod was almost under the passenger seat<<
In other words, it was almost on show then.
|
That too, but the tea leaf must've gone up and had a good look in to see it (although I realise the "hiding place" is not unique). it takes some balls in a very public place.
Expecting Mr Plod any minute - local boys are coming round to give advice on house security. Must've heard what a good cuppa we make :-)
Ontime called the Mrs today and said the car can be collected, so long as she has proof of ID, a key and a means of paying the pickup and (growing daily) storage bill. We think plod-u-like has probably got the key somewhere as they felt the villains collars at the car, but I do think the long arms of the law aren't very well connected. So if the key is missing, the insurance will pay for the locks to be changed. I guess they'll pay the storage etc too.
It's also been suggested that we tell the insurers to collect the car and inspect for damage before delivery back to us (saves the petrol getting there!). i've never heard of that, and I can;t see how they can tell whether it's been damaged by the crooks or had previous damage.
SWMBO has an appt with the house insurer tomorrow to go through what was taken. they want receipts for absolutely everything, and evidence of the £100 she had in her purse. Simply can't be done, I'm not sure we have all the receipts.
And I'm still waiting to hear that my laptop bag is ready to collect. Seems that may have now gone to maidenhead, which is less convenient too.
My goods were in criminal hands for less than a day but it's now over a week and no sign of the police wanting to give them back to us. PC Ben is a really nice bloke when I met him and when I've called him but hasn't made promised return calls - I think because he can;t find out what Maidenhead have done with our stuff, or where they are at.. I can be patient up to a point...
Whatever, the inconvenience and time consumed is far outweighing the cost.
|
|
You have my sympathy. You seem remarkably calm, all the better of course. It won't worry the police or the thieving scum if you get angry, just you and those around you.
|
>> It's also been suggested that we tell the insurers to collect the car and inspect for damage before delivery back
>> to us (saves the petrol getting there!). i've never heard of that, and I can;t see how they can tell whether
>> it's been damaged by the crooks or had previous damage.
Any fresh body/wheel damage will be easy to see, more so if the car was dirty when stolen. If the wheels are bent then any tracking/suspension misalignment should be checked for as well.
It must all have been awful for you Smokie - touch wood I've never been on the receiving end of any crime like that. More so as I don't have home contents cover (all the stuff here was freebie or extremely cheap 2nd hand, no receipts to speak of).
|
tbh no, it wasn't awful. I've always had the view "don't worry too much, it's insured" (not to the point of recklessness of course!)
however SWMBO can be very funny about this kind of thing, and I was fully expecting her to say she didn't want the car back if some scrote had been driving it, but she's fine too. We didn't get hurt, nothing was trashed, it's really the burden of admin etc (as above) which is getting us down, much more than the event itself. Even collecting the car - it's 15 miles away, has to be collected during the working day when we both work - will involve time off.
Mr Plod tonight was friendly enough, had a questionnaire which is part of Operation Something or Other where he was asking us about locks on sheds, smoke alarms etc. About half way through I asked what the purpose was, and what the data was used for. We all had a smile when he said he wasn't really sure - his gaffer had asked him to come to us and complete the form! Sounds like a box ticking exercise to me, would have preferred he was out feeling a few more collars really. Still it gave me some closure (yeah right... LOL)
EDIT: just remembered something an earlier copper said - they often know who in any area is responsible for the crime - standard MO etc. So while they can't pin anything on them, they often go round and knock them up for a chat, just see how things are going etc, and let them know they have their eye on them. Fine line between concern and harassment probably, but I quite liked that idea.
Last edited by: smokie on Thu 22 Nov 12 at 22:46
|
Smokie, i respectfully suggest you examine the seats carefully.
Just be vigilant is all i suggest, the people who stole the car are not the eccentric and decent but slightly disturbed people who post here, they were scum bags.
|
>> Smokie, i respectfully suggest you examine the seats carefully.
>> Just be vigilant is all i suggest, the people who stole the car ... were scum bags.
Check for needles / broken glass as well as fluids :(
|
>> Check for needles / broken glass as well as fluids :(
>>
I was trying to be subtle, but oh no there's Dave, size 12's fully laced..:-)
|
What a world country we live in.
|
|
Try living in Libya, or Syria.
|
>>It's also been suggested that we tell the insurers to collect the car and inspect for damage before delivery back to us (saves the petrol getting there!). i've never heard of that, and I can;t see how they can tell whether it's been damaged by the crooks or had previous damage.
I am sure it never had any damage on it previously ;-)
I recall an incident with a company car driver who phoned up the claims department to say that he had reversed her company car in to a lamppost on a Saturday. You had to pay the excess if the damage was done on your time and the company would pay the excess if it was done on business.
Apparently the office that took the call asked the question several times; "are you sure it was on a Saturday"!
Oh hum!
|
>>>I dont believe in unhappy coincidence. I bet they are linked in some way
That was my thought too Zero when I read the first post. I can't think how but it seems a huge coincidence.
|
>> It's no coincidence.
>>
I can see the argument about breaking into a house knowing that the occupants are safely miles away, but one car doesn't mean the entire household is out.
|
>> Anyway, it wasn't the best of weeks, but I do have a shiny new iPod...
Not even the new iPod would have cheered me up Smokie. But very sorry to hear about yr troubles with toerags. Just the thought of the carphounds pawing your stuff and waddling around in your gaff is a bit sickening. Plod hanging on to the car must be annoying too, but perhaps they will catch the toerags eventually through dna or fingerprints. It can happen.
Had stuff stolen from cars several times in London. A good car stolen and never seen again. But we were on the second and third floors of a tall house so didn't get burgled there, although the basement and ground floor did a few times and the top floor once through the roof, the burglars having gained entry two houses away... you could just trot across the roofs, no problem. By the time we left the place was more or less impregnable, but not quite.
Argh... very annoying. Hard luck.
|
>>
>> >> you could just trot across the roofs, no problem.
>>
I am finding it difficult to visualise AC just trotting across London roofs.
Mary Poppins scene comes to mind.
|
Burglarised - Zero
