stolen van ,equipment

« **on:** June 12, 2004, 10:26:40 am »

got up 2 15 am this morning, reasons i wont go into
sat having a coffee, suddenly heard deisel engine,
outside on road, well with me living in a very quite village regognised the sound straight away ,looked out
side who and behold, my van driving of down the road,
all my cc gear ect, wiped out evrthing ,

just as things were taking off as well good amount of work in , etc.
what did i do ring 999 still see the van moving down the road , only 2 ways to go east or west along m62
no sign of van 5 hrs later , where the hell is it what do the police do? surly a car positioned in either direction within 5 mins they would spot a white van with emblazzoned sign writing every where . but no !!
nothing , "if the chopper had been up we might have caught them" says i officer , how long does it take them to get there act together
do i sound annoyed ....... yes i am
frustrated yes !!!
p****d off yes !!!
now what do i do? wait for weeks and hope insurance comp pays out
or go sign on the dole , no them b*****ds wont get the better of me
so could soon be looking for cc gear , etc keep looking
and what makes it worse on monday just gone a fellow
cc only 3 miles from me had all his equipment nicked from his van , strange??? is some body hoping to set up some where on the cheap
ok gripes over
geoff

« **Reply #1 on:** June 12, 2004, 12:04:51 pm »

Hi Geoff

I am really sorry to hear about the theft of your equipment. I think everyone needs to be viligant, but to warn others, what region are you from?

It would be perhaps a good idea to keep your eye on ebay as well, but a sad fact is that the theives may have access to these forums and see what is being talked about on here.

I too called the police a few weeks back about a gang of youths racing up and down the street on moterbikes for a couples of hours endangering themselves and others. The police eventually came 4 hours later when they had all gone

I hope that things eventually work out ok for you .

Best wishes

Robert

« **Reply #2 on:** June 12, 2004, 02:14:56 pm »

Geoff.
Sorry to hear about your theft. I had a van stolen a few years ago first thing I new about it was when the police phoned to say they had found it on fire in a near by town. It had an extractor roto 2 dehams 2 airblowers etc etc. The worst thing was they only used the van to steal customers goods in storage in my wharehouse we had 6 diffrent fire jobs and 3 floods on so stole tv, videos stereo equipment etc it was a nightmare with insurance. I am now having minor planet install their GPRS systems in my vans the system is quite complex and I want it for various reasons but one of them is the ability to track vehicles if they get removed from fixed over night location system autimatically texts me I can then useing broadband lead the police to the van. Their are various systems out their to track vehicles and some will give you a discount on insurance. I Know your horse has bolted but something for the future and others to think about. I hope it works out for you ok.
Best of luck
George

« **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2004, 02:25:03 pm »

Hi

I would also like to add my condolences ...it is always sad when something like this happens especially as vehicles are very often not covered by insurance if left outside overnight.

I had the latest Thatcham audable alarm fitted to my new van last year this was in addition to the built in immobiliser ...I shall now be looking to get a tracking device fitted as well.

I had a tracker fitted to my car and the costs were around £500...this cover was for the life of the vehicle and was activated by a call to the tracker call centre. There is a dearer system that monitors the vehicle 24 hours a day/night.

When you consider the cost of the vehicle and the equipment it is a wothwhile investment to seriously consider

Regards
Derek

« **Reply #4 on:** June 12, 2004, 03:07:39 pm »

tks for replys u guys,
im actually in east yorks just outside hull
insurance company now tells me have to wait while monday so they canj talk to underwriters?? so they casn find out exactly what and how much im covered for
in other words try wriggle out of it i suspect, does make me wonder though ? are we adiquitley insured for
claims against us from customerswhen things go wrong
any body had probs or is car and van insurance a different ball game , i shall be looking into mine all the same geoff

« **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2004, 03:29:12 pm »

Geoff.
When I made my claim they sent out a loss adjuster because of the amount of customers goods stolen.
We had to claim both on vehicle insurance and business insurance luckily for us both with same company.
I claimed for everything van, sign writeing on van all equipment chemicals etc. Technicians overalls hard hat gloves etc etc. The customers goods stolen were all replaced with new equivelent. We negotiated a cash payment for our loss and were paid out in full for everything we claimed for. I hope you have receipts photos serial numbers etc because you are going to need them I would spend the weekend sorting these so you are prepared. Start listing what was in the van and I mean everything down to your note pad and pen.

Good luck
George

« **Reply #6 on:** June 12, 2004, 03:55:59 pm »

Geoff,

I am so sorry of your loss.

I was in the same position 3¹/₂ years ago. I left the van for 19 minutes - was found burnt out 2 hours later - half the equipment still on-board. The contents were not covered by insurance.

The loss is compounded by loss on no claims bonus, loss of earnings, loss of sleep due to pent-up anger and in my case the imposiblity of replacing certain items collected over many years.

Your profile does not give your location, but I could probably loan you sufficient equipment to get you back on the road if geography makes this practical. Let me know.

John.

« **Reply #7 on:** June 12, 2004, 05:44:08 pm »

Sorry for your loss yes i agree the police are very slow in reacting to crime a while ago while watching tv one sunday afternoon(1pm) i noticed two lads breaking into the house over the road i ran out grabbed hold of one of them told our lass to phone the police who told her they would send someone round 20 minutes of struggling with this hooligan nothing she rang again to be told they were busy.I let the lad go with a clip round the head and the police turned up at 9pm.I've got a Host freestyle hat i could lend you if that helps?

« **Reply #8 on:** June 12, 2004, 06:50:23 pm »

thanks john,
very kind offer from you, another mike haliday
didnt meen that as an insult john

i also had mikes new patio cleaning gear in my van
have sent you a private message john
cheers all geoff

« **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2004, 07:07:46 pm »

Terrible news Geoff

Old Bill really are a useless bunch these days, more interested in raising revenue from speed cameras.

If your insured correctly you will be able to hire all the equipment you need including a van preferably on a business credit card, you can then produce the receipts and claim it all back when you have been supplied with new from the insurance company.So in effect you shouldn't incur any charges at all other than your excess that you will have to pay. ( you may have to suggest this course of action to the Loss Adjuster as they may not mention it, crafty gits that they are)

Hope this helps some what but isn't good to see the 'Brotherhood of Carpet Cleaners' kicking in again to offer help, well done John and Steve

« **Reply #10 on:** June 12, 2004, 07:14:45 pm »

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, lets hope someone manages to got hold of them!I hope your insurance bails you out.
I think the most important thing to come out of this is to make sure you unload your equipment every night without fail.I know it's a ball ache but it helps me get a goodnights sleep.Replacing your vehicile is a lot easier then having tio replace all your equipment and dosen't stop you working.
Good luck geoff
joe

« **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2004, 09:21:28 pm »

Geoff, Have you any pictures of the van or machinery that you could post on this forum, someone may spot them on their travels.

Keep em peeled on Ebay

« **Reply #12 on:** June 12, 2004, 10:57:33 pm »

Geoff

Sorry to here of your loss, as Chris suggest can you post pictures.

Nicking gear/vans seem to be rife in your neck of the woods have you been to Walton st market they seem to sell every thing there, not sure what day this is on.

Derek has a relevant point on the tracker system cost of vehicle/equipment, but seeing here the negative feed back about the police response time, I wonder if you have this system fitted and they can pin point the vehicle, what response time you get from the police?

There is a cheap option not that I’m recommending it is to have a Tracker sign stuck on the vehicle.

Len

« **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2004, 11:08:11 pm »

Geoff,

I have a Prochem Cheyane case that I can put a couple of three-stage vacs and a 135 psi pump into, a brand new wand, and a 500psi Steamate but can spare only 25ft of hose.

Problem is that it's a 400 mile round-trip, so if Woodmans' sugestion can be followed it may be the easier option.

Let me know.

John.

« **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2004, 07:40:25 am »

NOT a ton of crime in Norway but I have a switch that turns off the fuel pump

So the only way they would steal my truck is tow it.

hard to start without fuel.

I know this does not help now but next time new truck you should do this

IVAR :

« **Reply #15 on:** June 13, 2004, 08:49:13 am »

Not in your scale of loss but a few weeks ago I had my very expensive drill stolen out the back of my car.

The Estate has close circuit Tv. Big Brother watches us 24 hrs a day.

Why dont you check tapes I ask

Will take too long.

I did manage to use my influence tapes were checked, told picture quality was not good enough.

Another problem is that all though police numbers have been increased there are not enough of them.

Instead of calls being taken at local Police Stations you phone Central Control which in our case is 60 miles away.

Each call is given a Priority, Number which governs respose times.

Murder might be priority one.

Police admited to me on that Response times could be low.

To get a Road Block in place you would have to have a high priority crime.

Nicked tradesmen tools would not be a high priority.

I do not think enough emphasis is put on detection.

How many of the goods sold on Ebay are checked out by the police.

Have you read in The Court Section of your local paper of stolen goods being found at Car Boot Sales.

On the Bill they have a network of snouts

Where are they dont they drink in local pubs.

If they did there would be more arrests for tobbacco smuglers drug dealers etc.

Psmake sure you have lots of identification marks all over your equipment making it hard to sell without an honest person asking questions

Regards

Ian

« **Reply #16 on:** June 13, 2004, 10:24:41 am »

Guys

Please don't laugh! :

Ian....
Your last post reminded me of something.... a few weeks ago I went to the local Police Headquarters to a crime prevention meeting ....for allotment gardens (pause for laughter

)

One of the presentations was for a product called 'Smart water' [ONE WORD BUT PROGRAMME WRITES 'THINGY] (this is not a joke but deadly serious)

You can purchase your own unique 'Smart water' and apply to all your kit, you then register your 'Smart water' onto a national database.

Each batch of 'Smart water' apparently has its own DNA which can be picked up off a suspectedly stolen item and traced back to you.

Details on:-

www.smart water.com

Smart water Technology Limited
PO Box 23
Newport,
Shropshire
TF10 7UX

Tel: +44 (0) 1952 222706

Perhaps this is worth looking at

Thanks for reminding me Ian..it had completely slipped my mind

Please note that the product name in each case is one word not split ...I have had to do this for the reason given above...this includes the web site address)

Cheers
Derek

« **Reply #17 on:** June 14, 2004, 08:44:55 am »

can i say , i never have known a trade quite like cc
and ive done a few things in my time , but what ive noticed when some things goes wrong , in other words
when your in the s**t theirs always a cc to there to try and help, wether its advise, or just plain going out of their way to help you, some body has an answer,or a solution.
thanks all you great guys for your support wether
moral, or all your kind offers
makes me feel much better and ive had a very kind offer
from mizz ryan of nottingham ,of a loan of van and equipment ,and would like to thank her publicly,
sent me a pm , doesnt know me, never met me,
and i get offers like that
thanks again
and thanks mike halliday for been understanding
makes the world look a little better ,after a really crap weekend
geoff

« **Reply #18 on:** June 14, 2004, 11:18:15 am »

Nice one Geoff.
Don't let the bast*rds grind you down

One word.............KARMA

« **Reply #19 on:** June 14, 2004, 07:27:37 pm »

Really sorry Geoff to hear of your problems, cant imagine the effect this could be having on your business.

Just dislocated my thumb been told plaster cast must stay on for 6 weeks, works piling up and not much I can do about it, its driving me mad.

But thats nothing compared to your problems.

Hope you get back to normal asap.

Phil

« **Reply #20 on:** June 15, 2004, 01:07:52 am »

Derek, Smart water is all well and good, but you have to get hold of the suspected equipment to have it tested. Most seems to just dissappear never to be seen again. Saw a tv program about exporting stolen cars using containers, wondered if CC gear went that way, exported to N Africa or wherever. (do they have carpets in Soweto :

). I think a tracker sounds the answer, Provided plod can be mobilised soon enough.

« **Reply #21 on:** June 15, 2004, 01:21:56 am »

Geoff. ftp://Just caught up with your horrible news.

Describe the van, its signwriting, its reg no, describe some of the key equipment.

It may be anywhere by now, but if it is still in theUK somebody on this forum may see it or even be offered it.

Also post details on Cleantalk.

Several hundred pairs of sympathetic eyes around the country might help.

« **Reply #22 on:** June 16, 2004, 01:01:08 am »

Geoff, you must be absolutely gutted.

It make's me wonder whether it is worth putting signage on vans as it's a possible invitation. Same as those that state that equipment is not left in vans overnight - an invitation to raid your garage instead.

I think I might change my signage to Pig S**t Storage - Goods not always left in van overnight. Keep the gits wondering and wary.

The sad fact is, that no matter what type of security any of us employ, if they are determined to have it, they will try and get it. Insure everything so that you can replace 'everything'.

I hope you get everything back or that yr insurance come up trumps.

Best regards
Cheryl

« **Reply #23 on:** June 17, 2004, 11:22:11 am »

an update
insurance hahahaha, they wriggle out of everthing they can !!! ok i hold my hands up and admit ive been very nieve when it comes to my insurance, it seems it never enough when it comes to the crunch, and a mistake
i will never make again , "not having sufficient cover"
beware guys IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU check your insurance, take extra cover
you wont lose any sleep if the worst comes to the worst
believe me, get peace of mind
and a BIG thank you to all your replys, and all the offers
especially to those of you who have got me out of the s**t for a while ,
you all know who you are , i no need to name at this time thanks to you all
thanks again
geoff

« **Reply #24 on:** June 18, 2004, 01:03:31 am »

Hi Geoff

Sorry to read about what has happened to you.

I had a hose reel up for sale on Cleantalk for £50.00, to you it is FREE contact me on 07971 782936.

John Flynn
Dewsbury
West Yorkshire