Coping Stones Theft - ongoing problem

elsien

You have to pay for Tate modern, so try putting a collection box up next to your bubble wrap.

DKLS

I had a similar issue in an old end terrace, in the end I sourced slightly larger stones and had crushed glass glued on the under sides.


No more theft but did spot some blood on the wall one morning.

robgoingcrazy

missprice wrote: »

Agree about the wall art get on to the media right away, may get enough money from that to fix the wall.

What additional problems?

And whoever buys it may well rent it out, so you would be no closer to getting the wall fixed. I agree its unsightly, but its not the worst ever looking wall.

Sorry I just meant, the fact that there will be additional work to do on the property since this mysterious buyer viewed the house... If he's a cash buyer this process seems to be dragging on a little?

Surely whoever buys it would be responsible for the property, whether they rent it out or not?

missprice

robgoingcrazy wrote: »

Sorry I just meant, the fact that there will be additional work to do on the property since this mysterious buyer viewed the house... If he's a cash buyer this process seems to be dragging on a little?

Surely whoever buys it would be responsible for the property, whether they rent it out or not?

Well yes but the wall is presumably ugly, can't tell cos of the bubble wrap.and ugly walls are not a crime yet, thankfully, cos one of mine is awful.and new buyer may well like it as it us.
If its falling down, new buyer may well want to just pull it down and put nothing in its place. Unless there is summat in the deeds saying a wall must be there?

Its not against the law to have no "thing" fence, wall, barbed wire whatever in that place.

robgoingcrazy

No further forward with this, in fact tonight I heard a noise outside and thought I'd check, and looks like they've started on the next stretch of wall, as one of the stones further along is now gone. So they are obviously intent on stealing the lot.

Must have disturbed them this time, now I am jumping at every single noise I hear thinking there is someone out the back robbing more.

Phoned police, attitude seemed to be there was nothing they or I could do. And there isn't, I guess - can't claim anything on insurance, can't get anyone to help with the wall, I guess I might as well just leave it and if it falls down or gets stolen brick by brick then so be it

Are coping stones essential? I don't care what the wall looks like, what's wrong with just slapping a layer of cement on top? At least it can't be nicked?

missile

What kind of low life scumbag would steal coping stones? I would be having a look around the area. They will not travel far to steal coping stones. If you can find the culprit - the police will be obliged to take action.

notbritishgas

robgoingcrazy wrote: »

Are coping stones essential? I don't care what the wall looks like, what's wrong with just slapping a layer of cement on top? At least it can't be nicked?

If it was me I would forget coping stones, instead I would put a course of engineering bricks on top, these are very hard bricks, the blue ones would make a nice contrast to a red brick wall and if the wall is 2 bricks wide they could be laid crossways.

This method could be cheaper than coping stones and would be much less liable to future theft.

Furts

notbritishgas wrote: »

If it was me I would forget coping stones, instead I would put a course of engineering bricks on top, these are very hard bricks, the blue ones would make a nice contrast to a red brick wall and if the wall is 2 bricks wide they could be laid crossways.

This method could be cheaper than coping stones and would be much less liable to future theft.

A wall must have a coping detail. However, do not lay a brick across the wall - it will lead to frost, wet and decay.

There must be a drip detail to the top of the wall with an overhang of perhaps 40-50mm on each side. There should also be a damp proof layer introduced .

The original coping stones may have incorporated these details - that is impervious, overhanging, and with a drip detail formed underneath.

If the original coping stones were of natural stone they would be valuable and in demand for renovation projects.

I have, some time ago, used considerable quantities of epoxy mortar to permanently fix copings to walls. This prevented vandalism and it worked. Is this something you wish to consider?

Hope this helps.

robgoingcrazy

Thanks for the suggestions, it's all useful info but the point is I can't afford any of these solutions at the moment and the problem of the neighbouring property and whoever the owner is persists.

The house is supposedly under offer to someone who is going to renovate it inside, presumably to sell on. I guess they are going to have to do something about the wall if they want to make the property look presentable. I am past caring at this point they can take the lot of the stones and the wall can fall down for all I care at the moment. I tried to get the bulb in my security light changed but been quoted £70 and they can't do it for weeks as too busy... and I thought people would be glad of business in an economic climate where people are stealing slabs of rock to sell on...

Yes the coping stones were natural stone, I have seen similar stone all over the place in the area, so why they keep picking on my back garden I don't know, I suspect it may be a dodgy neighbour, but short of asking to look around in their houses I can't really prove anything

pimento

Could it be the old owner stealing the stones?