Coping Stones Theft - ongoing problem

jellie

Could you take the rest of the coping stones off yourself and put them out of sight in your back garden?

robgoingcrazy

pimento wrote: »

Could it be the old owner stealing the stones?

This has crossed my mind!

robgoingcrazy

jellie wrote: »

Could you take the rest of the coping stones off yourself and put them out of sight in your back garden?

I guess I could, but doesn't seem much point as they would not be doing what they were supposed to.

If I'd known they were this desirable/valuable I'd have sold the things myself!

DaveTheMus

if the stones have a slight overhang, I would super glue barbed fishing hooks up and down both sides......

robgoingcrazy

DaveTheMus wrote: »

if the stones have a slight overhang, I would super glue barbed fishing hooks up and down both sides......

I half jokingly suggested spray painting my name/address on the remaining stones to the bobby one the phone (unfortunately I think the law is an !!! and I would probably get sued if someone got injured on the fishhooks but I am tempted!).

Seriously though, the police said it's impossible to get forensics (ie fingerprints) off stone, but I was wondering whether marking them with that UV anti theft paint would be an idea... Something needs to be done to prevent what is evidently a booming crime, wonder why nobody's thought of marking stone in this way before, then any stone merchants could be forced to check all stone for markings or be done for receiving.

I had a look along the path that leads through to the house next door (there are two rows of terraced houses back to back, this path is how people access their rear yards from the other side) and the yard walls there are all topped with this stone. I noticed one missing from the wall nearest the access point, it seems strange that they would come so far in to get at mine when there are other stones nearer wherever they have a vehicle to get them away), but in all probability they will be back as there is nothing to stop them taking the chance.

I am going to see my councillor tomorrow who was very helpful with something else. The irony is that I paid towards a council alley gating scheme in the spring of last year, and apparently because some people didn't pay it can't get done - so because people wouldn't pay £15 (council was making up a good chunk) I'm now going to be hundreds out of pocket.

Bloke who sorted the alley gating in the first place suggested if the ones interested made up the shortfall it might get done but have not heard from him since then so I think he's given up, but I will see what this councillor can suggest as the police say I am a priority for crime prevention now I've been done twice.

I got a note from the local bobby through my door today to say they'd called to do a welfare check, which was nice, they have generally been very helpful apart from the fact they admitted there's probably no chance of ever catching these low lifes

I will ask councillor what law is on planting bear traps in the garden as well :eek:

robgoingcrazy

Police and now victim support have been very helpful, I am at least getting a new security light installed.

I was also advised that the empty house next door is like a neon sign to thieves, with the For Sale sign, the boarded up back window, and the mail literally dropping out of the front letter box as no more can be shoved through. I had already mentioned this to the estate agent and asked the or the current owner to do something, at the time they poo-pooed my concerns and they have repeatedly ignored my correspondence (all I ever got in reply when I complained to head office was a brief email to say they are certainly not ignoring me - when I send 5 or 6 emails over the course of a month and state that I request an acknowledgement of receipt, and no reply, that is clearly ignoring me).

Victim support said either the current owner or estate agents have a general duty of care which they seem to have been negligent of, and advised me to take legal action if necessary, as because of their refusal to act in this matter I have suffered further crime, which has resulted in a lot of stress, given that I also work from home and have been unable to concentrate properly on work, never mind the increasing financial consequences of the matter.

I will see if my solicitor will act on a no win no fee basis (he did this when my dad slipped in a supermarket and broke his back, ended up up getting a payout that made his retirement comfortable at least) or see if my home insurance legal protection covers this sort of thing...

moneyistooshorttomention

Only thought that strikes me is that its possible to get rid of one of those "neon signs" anyway. I'd be pulling all possible mail out of the overflowing letterbox myself and making sure that it stays that way.

Your choice, having pulled out that mail, as to whether to "return it to sender" or keep it in a neat little pile ready to give to the next owner when you have the chance.

Mind you...I'd also be removing the "for sale" sign too if I thought it was attracting thieves and hiding it somewhere (or disposing of it). "The wind must have blown it down" ...

pimento

I suppose if you wanted to render the stones useless to a thief, you could always spray them flourescent pink.

robgoingcrazy

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Only thought that strikes me is that its possible to get rid of one of those "neon signs" anyway. I'd be pulling all possible mail out of the overflowing letterbox myself and making sure that it stays that way.

Your choice, having pulled out that mail, as to whether to "return it to sender" or keep it in a neat little pile ready to give to the next owner when you have the chance.

Mind you...I'd also be removing the "for sale" sign too if I thought it was attracting thieves and hiding it somewhere (or disposing of it). "The wind must have blown it down" ...

I've actually pulled the mail. First I tried to push it through, I thought it was just stuck - I found loads of mail all scrunched up and shoved into the letterbox, because the flap on the other side appears to have been sealed/glued/nailed shut. No budging it.

Is that something bailiffs would normally do? Or something the neighbour might have done to barricade himself from any official demands before he left?

I can remember if I mentioned, but a few weeks ago the neighbour turned up, after all the trouble they went to in terms of getting him out and changing the locks, and knowing he had broken back into the property and squatted at some point, they gave him a set of keys so he could go and collect his stuff :eek: Maybe he glued the letterbox shut as a parting gesture...

One of mail items was a card from virgin saying they'd been round to collect some equipment or other, as he's been gone since September they are very clearly out of the loop!

jellie

robgoingcrazy wrote: »

I guess I could, but doesn't seem much point as they would not be doing what they were supposed to.

If I'd known they were this desirable/valuable I'd have sold the things myself!

And if someone steals all of them, they won't be doing their job then either but you'll still have some left to put back on later.