Dirty rotten scoundrels!!!!

[villa_tom]

I woke up this morning to the next door neighbour knocking the door telling me my tools where all over the middle of the road. Some dirty theiving crack head has only broken into my van and took some of my gear!:angry_smile:

After a quick look turns out they have had my ladders, my dewalt combi drill and dewalt drill bit set and what I call my "install box" which has my blow torch and pipe cutters etc in!!

The police are coming at 2:30 this afternoon to speak to me and take a statement etc but I'm not holding my breath.

I have never had this happen before and I am well annoyed I have worked bloody hard to get to where I am and own the stuff I do and to think that someone has just taken it makes me feel sick.

I was looking forward to this weekend too. The missus is away and I was had the weekend to my self, my accounts are done and I was going to have a proper chill. But now some dirty lowlife has messed it up.

Oh well, I'll just have to wait to see what the police say.:frown2:

 

[moogwai]

There's too many of them round there mate.....get all the crack heads from the bromford and ward end walking the streets for victims! And the coppers won't do owt either as they are too busy looking for people on their phones whilst driving......I feel for ya pal.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

 

[markfxy]

Bring back the death penalty for these lowlife scum! Its not always about the cost of tools some that you've had for years are irreplaceable.
Hope the police find them but I wouldn't imagine they'll make much of an effort they're too busy persecuting motorists.

 

[secret squirrel]

We all know what the outcome of this will be. Your tools will be sold for a pittance and if the old bill do catch them, well, thats just as pointless. 10 hours community service etc.

Its just ridiculous.

Not wanting to rub salt into the wound B & Q are doing de walt 18v hammer drills plus 2 batteries for £99. May help!

 

[wards]

i would not hold my breath for any period of time when it comes to any results from pc plod,had my gear stolen a few times to no avail,sorry to hear about your loss,i now empty my van every night,a bit of a ball ache but at least the theiving b+++++ds cannot get their filthy mitts on them,i hope they do catch them but i know we will not see a return of our goods,even worse you have to replenish said stolen items out of your own coffers,makes me angry,just glad i have not caught them personally otherwise it would be me faceing our farcical laws,again sorry to hear your losses but you are not alone as i am sure many more people will tell you.

 

[villa_tom]

We all know what the outcome of this will be. Your tools will be sold for a pittance and if the old bill do catch them, well, thats just as pointless. 10 hours community service etc.

Its just ridiculous.

Not wanting to rub salt into the wound B & Q are doing de walt 18v hammer drills plus 2 batteries for £99. May help!

Just looking at drills now, to be honest I'm only doing servicing at the moment so I only need my tool bag and henry which they never took, my FGA was in the kitchen so atleast I can still carry on with my work. The van is still drivable as the doors still lock with the central locking I just cant use the manual lock on the back door.

I know they wont catch them but I'll report it to the police anyway and see what happens it can't hurt.

Just had another quick look over the van and they have took my fluke multimetre (a spare one) that was still in the packaging. I get the feeling I'm going to find out that more has been taken over the next few days/weeks when I go to the van to get something and find its not there.

 

[secret squirrel]

I know this is ridiculous and you shouldn't have to but if you've got a cash convertor or some other such shop near you it may be worth a look.

OR

If you've got a local car boot sale near you tomorrow...

This scum sell stuff for pea nuts just to get there next fix, at least Amy winehouse could afford her habbit!

 

[Resolute]

Keep an eye on eBay - once you know who's selling ask to look at the goods and when you've got their address....

 

[GQuigley67]

police will do nowt, if you know local people ask around you might get lucky and get the chance to dish out your cold hard fists of injustice. What about insurance then for this type of thing, is it a waste of time even getting your tools insured ???

 

[villa_tom]

police will do nowt, if you know local people ask around you might get lucky and get the chance to dish out your cold hard fists of injustice. What about insurance then for this type of thing, is it a waste of time even getting your tools insured ???

I had my tools insured for free for six months with my van insurance then got the letter through to extend it and the prices where stupid! There's nothing real expensive kept in the van over night as its all in the garage and only put on the van when I need it

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

Gutted for ya mate!

 

[SimonG]

Not nice mate, hope you can get sorted without too much hassle.

Like you say it's the little things that you'll miss in the next week or so. Unfortunately I wouldn't hold out much hope with the coppers, like it was said before too busy catching white collar criminals or filling in paperwork. Good advice on the cash converters and car boot sale though.

Still think you should be able to wire the van into the mains overnight give the little oiks an instant afro.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

totally gutted to hear of this they should have there thieving fingers removed

 

[SimonG]

totally gutted to hear of this they should have there thieving fingers removed

Aye, take em off from the neck

 

[villa_tom]

I would have loved to have caught them at it, but I would have probably got into more trouble than they would have for breaking in in the first place.
I've just knocked on a few neighbours doors who have work vans to warn them of what has happened. I'd love them to come back and I'd show them what damage my DeWalt can do with a flat wood bit put on the end.

The police are coming in a bit so I'll let you all know what they say. Although one of my break lights isn't working so they'll probably just give me a fixed point penalty and leave 🙂

 

[quality]

First of bad luck mate
I had my workshop robbed in broad daylight last year, I was on the bog and two scumbags walked in took drills a generator and other stuff ( which cost nearly 3000 to replace).

I had it all on camera, their faces, reg number all in colour, the police came gave me a crime number and left.

So the insurance said Because there was no violence or no forced entry I am not insured

Scum like this need beating to death

Sorry to hear you have been had aswell

 

[villa_tom]

The police have just been and gave me a crime number and said that they won't catch them and I wasn't going to see my stuff again, which came as no suprise really. They also said forensics wouldn't come because of the cost to do it. Well I tell you what I don't like the cost of the tax I pay to support the like of people who steal things out ouf honest people vans but I have no choice.

I've leave this country in a heart beat if I had the money.

 

[secret squirrel]

The police have just been and gave me a crime number and said that they won't catch them and I wasn't going to see my stuff again, which came as no suprise really. They also said forensics wouldn't come because of the cost to do it. Well I tell you what I don't like the cost of the tax I pay to support the like of people who steal things out ouf honest people vans but I have no choice.

I've leave this country in a heart beat if I had the money.

The very sad fact about this is that we all new the outcome of this as soon as you posted about your van being broken into and the Police new the answer before they even turned up. This is the sad society that we live in today.

 

[quality]

The police have just been and gave me a crime number and said that they won't catch them and I wasn't going to see my stuff again, which came as no suprise really. They also said forensics wouldn't come because of the cost to do it. Well I tell you what I don't like the cost of the tax I pay to support the like of people who steal things out ouf honest people vans but I have no choice.

I've leave this country in a heart beat if I had the money.

Its a shame but I am not suprised at all

 

[villa_tom]

It hasn't suprised me at all either as it happened to my mate months ago and they said the same, I've just drove the van to the cashpoint and it was horrible knowing that some junkie has had there dirty body in there.

 

[dontknowitall]

Forensics too expensive? Flamin' 'eck!! Just what do we pay the police for?

Is it worth contacting forensics and paying the bill? Can't be too expensive for 1/2 day's work or so. Then at least you'll have the finger prints and DNA.

Then you can contact your local MP, newspaper. Also you could phone the police every week and see if the DNA and finger prints match anything they have. In time they might become fed up of this weekly phone call and actually record the crime.

Additionally, you could list the missing tools and post up the list in all the local shops ("Have you been offered ..."?)

 

[CES]

Thats shocking mate, but hardly surprising with the economy the way it is nowadays. I invested in a van vault a few motnhs ago and keep all my expensive tools in it (its secured to the floor) and I got an Armourshell clasp type lock for the back doors, apparently the hinges will come off before this thing. But I live in a bit of a "lively" area so Im a bit paranoid when it comes to security these days.
Hope you get over the ordeal soon and hopefully get to dole out some revenge in the future.!

 

[dontknowitall]

Just had another thought ...

If you do a "Have you seen/been offered?" leaflet you could get some free advertising.

Feel sorry for you, though.

It's alright for me enjoying my weekend and leaving my van unlocked but when you're probably living in a higher crime area to me it's another hassle you can do without and like so many of these unproductive things, it takes so long to sort it.

We've been on holiday recently and once again locked the doors as usual. Then, again as usual, we've come back home to find we've left one or two of the windows open. At our last house we were away for 10 days and a door, which could be seen from the road, was actually left open all the time (and not just unlocked).

Once again, I do sympathise. If you have the time and if you manage to get one or two leads for the police you could end up embarrassing them in a big way. Especially if you do one or two press releases (another form of free advertising!) explaining the crime and in time, your progress on your own investigations.

Hope you can trust human nature soon though - we're not all born criminals!!

 

[woodsy]

Sorry to hear about this Tom, had it done to me previously and had copper stolen this week from my pipe rack. Its so annoying to know that some scroat is going to sell your stuff for next to nothing and cause you aggravation as you can be sure that the first thing you will need mon am is something that they have nicked. I didn't bother to report my theft this week because on top of my loss i would get hammered by my insurance if they get to know. The police keep reporting that the crime figures are going down when really its because people don't bother reporting things due to the response you got, and the sentence the scroats would get if caught.

 

[GQuigley67]

forensics too dear eh ?? why don't they just bloody well do it and probably catch these scumbags for countless more crimes while their at it...No wonder no one relys on the police, I'd rather dish out my own justice anyday.

 

[SimonG]

It's all a sign of the times. You have a crime committed against you and if the police are interested and do happen to catch the scrotes then the judges give them a slap on the wrist and they are on their way to do it again. If you caught them in the act and gave them a 'slap' you'd be arrested and probably end up with something more serious than the toe rags who where trying to nick your gear. Better off doing what a local builder did, someone caught stealing off of one of his sites, catches him and phones coppers, bloke ends up with a suspended wrist slapping, month later he catches the same lad doing the same thing, doesn't phone coppers, bloke mysteriously ends up in hospital. They never found him stealing from that builder again.

As was said earlier the staticians sit in their ivory towers saying crime is down, it's not it's 'reported' crime that has dropped due to dissolusionment of the great british public in the police force.

The sad thing is that nothing is going to change unless somebody gets a real grip of the current system and changes it so that there is an actual deterrent to prevent these scrotes doing this.

Rant over, back to watching them hopeless sods against Southampton.

 

[markfxy]

If your local copshop is anything like ours they wont have any money because if you look in their back yard its full of expensive motors like BMW X5s, 5 series estates a few jags a couple of subarus a Lotus elise and a couple of Honda Fireblades!!!, I installed an air con unit in their computer room and couldn't believe the money they've spent on cars.
Thats why theres no money left for forensics.

 

[villa_tom]

I'd probably get the book thrown at me if someone broke in again tonight but as the back door lock is broken (it still works with central locking) I have put a stanly blade on the handle on the back door and on the two side doors. Plus I have cleared the van of anything else valuable and just left stuff like my rubber drain down hose and a few fittings.

The police did say if there was blood left on the scene then forensics would be sent so if they break in again the van will be covered in the stuff

 

[tamz]

I have to say, as i was reading through this i was thinking all you will get is a crime number and they will make you feel guilty for inconveniencing them. The law is useless for this type of thing and the government don't have the cash, if they catch them, to lock them up with a bloody playstation and a satellite telly!

I agree with Simon. The police are not interested in putting any work into it unless it is a major crime.

I'm somewhat ashamed to say this and don't condone it, but, the only way to get "justice" with this type of thing is to do it yourself or if you are not that type of guy, get someone else to do it.
If you find out quick enough you might get your gear back but it is probably gone for a few quid, so take payment in pain.
Now i live in a small community and know most people but cities are much the same. Whoever screwed you is probably quite local. These scum always talk and offer the gear around. Ask around and you will find out who they are in a day or so then offer your own form of justice.
Put them in hospital and leave them unable to walk for 2 months ( go for the knees) and when they get out do it again. They won't report anything but just make sure there are no witnesses (or you wear a balklava if you go to their door). If you do it right you will never be troubled again as news travels fast.

I am not (anymore) a violet person but i still won't be fkd with.

 

[mfgs]

The police are useless for this kind of stuff, they just arent in the slightest bit interested. They dont want to know and the annoying thing is, if you catch the theives them in the act and give them a slap you will be the one facing the more severe punishment.
A friend of mine caught someone breaking into his van a few years back, he ran outside caught him and dragged him into his house. He then tied him to the bannisters and called the police, the police came along and nicked my mate for false imprisonment or some ******** like that. I think he got away with it in the end after forking out for a very expensive lawyer. The real criminal who ruined the locks and paintwork on his van didnt even get charged due to lack of evidence.

 

[villa_tom]

I have to say, as i was reading through this i was thinking all you will get is a crime number and they will make you feel guilty for inconveniencing them. The law is useless for this type of thing and the government don't have the cash, if they catch them, to lock them up with a bloody playstation and a satellite telly!

I agree with Simon. The police are not interested in putting any work into it unless it is a major crime.

I'm somewhat ashamed to say this and don't condone it, but, the only way to get "justice" with this type of thing is to do it yourself or if you are not that type of guy, get someone else to do it.
If you find out quick enough you might get your gear back but it is probably gone for a few quid, so take payment in pain.
Now i live in a small community and know most people but cities are much the same. Whoever screwed you is probably quite local. These scum always talk and offer the gear around. Ask around and you will find out who they are in a day or so then offer your own form of justice.
Put them in hospital and leave them unable to walk for 2 months ( go for the knees) and when they get out do it again. They won't report anything but just make sure there are no witnesses (or you wear a balklava if you go to their door). If you do it right you will never be troubled again as news travels fast.

I am not (anymore) a violet person but i still won't be fkd with.

I hate to say it tamz but your right. My brother works in the local pub so he's going to have an ask round there when he's in tonight, I'm not the type of person do "impart justice" but I know a few people who are.

At the end of the day they haven't had my main kit but we all know thats not the point. Atleast I can work monday morning and earn my keep, it just makes me sick that someone has been in my space and has my gear.

 

[tamz]

We all grew up with guys who have a reputation for violence who all may have their vices, but ripping the common man aint one of them. Put the word out and you will get a result.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

I have to say, as i was reading through this i was thinking all you will get is a crime number and they will make you feel guilty for inconveniencing them. The law is useless for this type of thing and the government don't have the cash, if they catch them, to lock them up with a bloody playstation and a satellite telly!

I agree with Simon. The police are not interested in putting any work into it unless it is a major crime.

I'm somewhat ashamed to say this and don't condone it, but, the only way to get "justice" with this type of thing is to do it yourself or if you are not that type of guy, get someone else to do it.
If you find out quick enough you might get your gear back but it is probably gone for a few quid, so take payment in pain.
Now i live in a small community and know most people but cities are much the same. Whoever screwed you is probably quite local. These scum always talk and offer the gear around. Ask around and you will find out who they are in a day or so then offer your own form of justice.
Put them in hospital and leave them unable to walk for 2 months ( go for the knees) and when they get out do it again. They won't report anything but just make sure there are no witnesses (or you wear a balklava if you go to their door). If you do it right you will never be troubled again as news travels fast.

I am not (anymore) a violet person but i still won't be fkd with.

now i did not like to tell him this option,but if you know the right people.....

 

[tamz]

I'd do it myself just for the buzz. It might even work out good value for the admission!
But i love a good pagger :lol:

 

[GQuigley67]

worth a shot asking locally, you never know, someone you know might of heard from someone they know that local junkie joe is selling a drill, who happen to be so and so's cousin, it all adds up and they can be caught.

around here if you get the police involved your a grass lol, most people just end up doin much much worse than what the police can do.

 

[villa_tom]

My brother may find something out at work tonight but I'm not counting on anything. If I hear something I'll ask a few questions in the right places but if not I'll just leave it, buy new stuff and move on. The lock is being fixed on friday by a mate of a mate at a good price so once that is done I'll add another lock ontop of that and just forget about it.

 

[tamz]

If you do find out any info don't be shy in visiting them.
A bird in the hand is worth a good kicking just for the feel good factor!

 

[villa_tom]

Maybe if I found out who they where we could have a UKPF meet up and sort them out that way. I'm imaging there was 2 of them so tamz could hold the right arm, gasman the left, Gerry could hold down the left leg and DiamondGas the right leg and I could kick them in the family jewels.

While this is going on Awheating, Croppie, Stan, Plumbstar Tom, Puddle, Moogwai, Fuzzy and Bod can be holding down his mate and then we can then all do him in.

I could them show him the dangers of what the incorrect usage of my rothenberger superfire 2 can do, after all they liked it so much they took it. Although they did leave my hot works permit behind so they shouldn't be using it really 🙂

If I left your name off the list then I'm sorry but please fell free to request an invite.

Obviously we would have to ask the admin first LOL

 

[Dannypipe]

Now I know why you've had a lousy day.

People who steal tools from hard working tradesmen should have their hands cut off. Seriously I'd vote for it.

Last time it happened to me, I visited a local car boot sale, and a local second hand tool market. Didn't find my tools, and spent a crap weekend wandering around seething. Like you, I'd only just cancelled my insurance. Its horrible mate. I feel your pain.

The law won't catch em.

Its a total invasion of your space, and it just plain sucks.

My parents neighbours are cops, and he told me when they do catch one of these theives they are nearly all junkies. He said really went on about how they are all junkies. Loser heroin addicts.

The thing to remember is,

You work hard to earn an honest living. You have skills which take years to build and can go out and earn more money and replace what you have lost. You are respectable and can look yourself in the eye. The scum who stole your kit will be some loser junkie. Who goes from fix to fix, and will die in their hovel never having achieved anything.

 

[Dannypipe]

Sorry to rant, I HATE tool theives.

 

[villa_tom]

Sorry to rant, I HATE tool theives.

No need to apologise I know we all feel the same about these type of people.

Thank you for locking yourself out of your van, it has perked my right up. 🙂

 

[kirkgas]

Maybe if I found out who they where we could have a UKPF meet up and sort them out that way. I'm imaging there was 2 of them so tamz could hold the right arm, gasman the left, Gerry could hold down the left leg and DiamondGas the right leg and I could kick them in the family jewels.

While this is going on Awheating, Croppie, Stan, Plumbstar Tom, Puddle, Moogwai, Fuzzy and Bod can be holding down his mate and then we can then all do him in.

I could them show him the dangers of what the incorrect usage of my rothenberger superfire 2 can do, after all they liked it so much they took it. Although they did leave my hot works permit behind so they shouldn't be using it really 🙂

If I left your name off the list then I'm sorry but please fell free to request an invite.

Obviously we would have to ask the admin first LOL

im gutted you didnt include me, but as you have now invited me i will drive me and tam down, and be the getaway driver/look out

 

[EPH]

Maybe if I found out who they where we could have a UKPF meet up and sort them out that way. I'm imaging there was 2 of them so tamz could hold the right arm, gasman the left, Gerry could hold down the left leg and DiamondGas the right leg and I could kick them in the family jewels.

While this is going on Awheating, Croppie, Stan, Plumbstar Tom, Puddle, Moogwai, Fuzzy and Bod can be holding down his mate and then we can then all do him in.

I could them show him the dangers of what the incorrect usage of my rothenberger superfire 2 can do, after all they liked it so much they took it. Although they did leave my hot works permit behind so they shouldn't be using it really 🙂

If I left your name off the list then I'm sorry but please fell free to request an invite.

Obviously we would have to ask the admin first LOL

Don't worry mate I'll do them on me my own and you can film it on your phones!

 

[villa_tom]

im gutted you didnt include me, but as you have now invited me i will drive me and tam down, and be the getaway driver/look out

Dear KirkGas,

You are invited to the inaugural UKPF tool thief mash up.

It will take place on a disused trading estate somewhere in Birmingham.

RSVP

PS bring a bottle

😛arty:

 

[villa_tom]

Don't worry mate I'll do them on me my own and you can film it on your phones!

Maybe this could be the new craze like when happy slapping was going on.

 

[kirkgas]

going round the local places might help, my house got broken into about 4yrs ago, fri at 4pm, No1 son who was 25 took the twins who were 6 for dinner, i went home at 4.30 to find the place broken into and everything, and i mean everything scattered about the house, all the usual suspects were gone, laptops watches cash dvd players cameras etc, reckon the were disturbed by me coming in as there were wee piles of stuff sorted ready to be moved next, anyway went to cash convertors on the saturday morning to ask if they could look out for the stuff, went outside and saw 2 junkies rattling towards the shop with bin bags, went in behind them and saw my stuff being put up on the counter, **** me what a riot broke out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! grabbed the 2 of them, son runs in arms punching everything that moved, shop manager comes over and tells me to get out her shop i'm causing a scene!! told her to F off and call the cops and she wouldnt as it wasnt her business, all the customers and people in the precinct by this time were watching, eventually 2 security guards came and broke things up, then the junkies demanded the cops as we were assaulting them, they got charged with passing on stolen goods as they couldnt prove they broke in, my son and i got charged with breach of the peace, assault, imprisonment of a civilian, and threatening the store manager, jeezo how we laughed.
eventually charges got dropped and 18months later we were called as witnesses, case got cancelled as one of the junkies died of an overdose, so a bit of a result there, but it was a very stressful time for everyone as mrs, daughter and the twins were jumping about the house at the slightest sound, i think it took well over a year for them to settle,

 

[kirkgas]

Dear KirkGas,

You are invited to the inaugural UKPF tool thief mash up.

It will take place on a disused trading estate somewhere in Birmingham.

RSVP

PS bring a bottle

😛arty:

cheers, me and tam will drop wee bits of them oot the car windae all the way back up the road

 

[tamz]

going round the local places might help, my house got broken into about 4yrs ago, fri at 4pm, No1 son who was 25 took the twins who were 6 for dinner, i went home at 4.30 to find the place broken into and everything, and i mean everything scattered about the house, all the usual suspects were gone, laptops watches cash dvd players cameras etc, reckon the were disturbed by me coming in as there were wee piles of stuff sorted ready to be moved next, anyway went to cash convertors on the saturday morning to ask if they could look out for the stuff, went outside and saw 2 junkies rattling towards the shop with bin bags, went in behind them and saw my stuff being put up on the counter, **** me what a riot broke out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! grabbed the 2 of them, son runs in arms punching everything that moved, shop manager comes over and tells me to get out her shop i'm causing a scene!! told her to F off and call the cops and she wouldnt as it wasnt her business, all the customers and people in the precinct by this time were watching, eventually 2 security guards came and broke things up, then the junkies demanded the cops as we were assaulting them, they got charged with passing on stolen goods as they couldnt prove they broke in, my son and i got charged with breach of the peace, assault, imprisonment of a civilian, and threatening the store manager, jeezo how we laughed.
eventually charges got dropped and 18months later we were called as witnesses, case got cancelled as one of the junkies died of an overdose, so a bit of a result there, but it was a very stressful time for everyone as mrs, daughter and the twins were jumping about the house at the slightest sound, i think it took well over a year for them to settle,

Well you wid sty in Coatbrig!!!!

 

[villa_tom]

going round the local places might help, my house got broken into about 4yrs ago, fri at 4pm, No1 son who was 25 took the twins who were 6 for dinner, i went home at 4.30 to find the place broken into and everything, and i mean everything scattered about the house, all the usual suspects were gone, laptops watches cash dvd players cameras etc, reckon the were disturbed by me coming in as there were wee piles of stuff sorted ready to be moved next, anyway went to cash convertors on the saturday morning to ask if they could look out for the stuff, went outside and saw 2 junkies rattling towards the shop with bin bags, went in behind them and saw my stuff being put up on the counter, **** me what a riot broke out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! grabbed the 2 of them, son runs in arms punching everything that moved, shop manager comes over and tells me to get out her shop i'm causing a scene!! told her to F off and call the cops and she wouldnt as it wasnt her business, all the customers and people in the precinct by this time were watching, eventually 2 security guards came and broke things up, then the junkies demanded the cops as we were assaulting them, they got charged with passing on stolen goods as they couldnt prove they broke in, my son and i got charged with breach of the peace, assault, imprisonment of a civilian, and threatening the store manager, jeezo how we laughed.
eventually charges got dropped and 18months later we were called as witnesses, case got cancelled as one of the junkies died of an overdose, so a bit of a result there, but it was a very stressful time for everyone as mrs, daughter and the twins were jumping about the house at the slightest sound, i think it took well over a year for them to settle,

The more I hear of these stories it just seems that the victims get in more trouble than the thieves. Maybe if the police went down to cash converters and the like then the scene wouldn't have happened. Its a joke really. It seems that the theives know they won't get caught and just carry on regardless.

 

[GQuigley67]

ohh that reminds me, I'm going to work on sites on monday, better get my padlock out for my tool box!

 

[SafeGasInstall]

had my service bag stolen with other bits all to recover 1k , insurance paid me £800 after 4 mount