Theft from Ancient Monument in Dorset

[Matthew Arnold]

Last winter we had a theft of approximately £3000 worth of equipment. We were only 100 metres away from the truck but it was 100 metres uphill so all we could see was the top of the beacon. About 15 minutes before we noticed the theft there was a suspicious looking gentleman with two lurchers watching us for a long period of time. We heard a vehicle turn up whilst the man was watching and we assumed it was our colleagues but sadly we think it was a couple of his mates. They used a screwdriver or similar to prize the locking pins out to get into the back of the truck. We lost 2 Stihl Chainsaws( 341 and 361[361 was only 4 months old]), Stihl FS 450 Brushcutter and a Tirfor T516 winch. All of the equipment was replaced with 2 months and all of our powertools no matter how old have been tagged and put into the tool database at our HQ.

[Old WoodChip]

the sad part is if they were caught what would happen?

 

Only last week I was driving past the river near us where the water board have been working, the 20t volvo dumper was parked up behind a 360 and I spotted a guy with a 25l drum.

Turned the car around and parked and out popped two other guys with more cans, I rang the police and said if they send a car right now they will catch them with their hands full.

15 mins pased and no sign of police and they started loading the car, 7 drums all 25l each were loaded into a car along with 3 occupants and they drove off, I quickly took a pic with my phone and left myself.

in the next village i seen two police on the beat and said i just reported a theft of diesel and now had a picture of the car. he got on his radio, told me police are at the scene now, I said they wont find them they drove off but if they looked they would smell fuel.

 

The next comment left me a bit surprised to say the least. He said we got your details and if we need to will have the picture details, BUT so far no crime has been committed so their hands were tied.

And they wonder why people dont bother to help?

 

A mate of mine lost a strimmer and saw off his van, he was only yards away and even followed them, but didnt get his tools back as he couldnt prove anything.

 

What world are we living in Grrrrr........

[APC]

the sad part is if they were caught what would happen?

 

Only last week I was driving past the river near us where the water board have been working, the 20t volvo dumper was parked up behind a 360 and I spotted a guy with a 25l drum.

Turned the car around and parked and out popped two other guys with more cans, I rang the police and said if they send a car right now they will catch them with their hands full.

15 mins pased and no sign of police and they started loading the car, 7 drums all 25l each were loaded into a car along with 3 occupants and they drove off, I quickly took a pic with my phone and left myself.

in the next village i seen two police on the beat and said i just reported a theft of diesel and now had a picture of the car. he got on his radio, told me police are at the scene now, I said they wont find them they drove off but if they looked they would smell fuel.

 

The next comment left me a bit surprised to say the least. He said we got your details and if we need to will have the picture details, BUT so far no crime has been committed so their hands were tied.

And they wonder why people dont bother to help?

 

A mate of mine lost a strimmer and saw off his van, he was only yards away and even followed them, but didnt get his tools back as he couldnt prove anything.

 

What world are we living in Grrrrr........

 

Slap first, prove later.

[Matthew Arnold]

It is scary. If they did get caught they would have been let off with not even a slap on the wrist. As they wouldnt have been able to prove they were our bits of kit. Apart from the security stickers we have just inside the air filter covers. And the security pen markers on them too.