Thefts and Vandalism

Presumably if you have to keep claiming then something urgently should be done to minimise the risk.

 

A good insurance company will offer a risk reduction advisory service, after all its in their interests to do so. I used to share an office with a risk reduction advisor and he admitted that a determined thief will always get in and in rural areas a loud alarm is only any good there is anyone in the vicinity to hear it. Opportunist thieves will avoid dogs so a sign warning of their presence helps. A farmer I dealt with had barns located by a busy road was always getting tools stolen until he bought a sign with a picture of a Rottweiler and message underneath ‘ the remains of trespassers will be prosecuted’, the dog didn’t exist but it cured the theft problem.
Professional criminals will look at the security and will make a assessment on whether they can get in and be away before anyone arrives to investigate. All that can be done with security is make that entry time as long as possible.

 

Railways struggle enough for volunteers, now you want (probably the same) volunteers to spend even more time away from their families, work and friends to stay overnight in, let's face it, most likely a run down MK1 sleeper? How are you going to coordinate your plan so that the site is manned 24/7? What about railways with equipment at both ends - do you have 2 overnight locations? Now you've doubled your overnight volunteer requirement.

I'm not sure you're being very realistic.

Keith

 

The Middleton have spent a considerable amount on improving security recently, including completely replacing the security fence, but these break ins keep happening. There is no sanction from the law enforcement agencies. I almost despair. I think having people and a dog on site could lead to seroius injuries and a dead dog.

 

A dog will deter the opportunist thief but not the pro. As I said above it’s all about making the break in time as long as possible but short of wiring up the security fence to the mainline’s 25kv there’s no way of making anything burglar proof.

 

I well remember a police crime prevention 'expert' suggesting that a goose would be better than a dog as it needed little looking after. My response was that people seldom eat dogs.

 

I can tell you from experience, a goose coming at you neck extended with its snapping beak in line with a certain vital part of the anatomy can be very off putting!!

 

Geese and some ducks are good watchers, if you are close by. They instantly clack when they hear approaching sounds. Geese however are often kept in the Far East as guards; they will attack and seem to know where your 'soft bits' are it seems!

Edit: missed JonhB's comments which say much the same about geese.

 

My sympathies to Foxfield & Middleton - as well as any one else suffering the attentions of these less than half-wits.

Those are just a bit more specialised than the usual stolen tools that end up sold on at car boot sales or some pub ...

 

So if anyone going to break in make sure they are armed with some Paxo sage & onion stuffing.

 

That's really unfortunate. Is the issue that they felt the chance of working out who the miscreant(s) were is small, or that they have too many higher-priority things to deal with, or what? (I hope it's something reasonable like that, and not that they just can't be bothered.)

Noel

 

The real question is how can we make it more difficult to dispose of stolen property>

One obvious suggestion was licensing second hand car & cycle dealers

 

The real problem fir railways is metal thieves who are only interested in the scrap value do an item that may have cost the railway say £5000 may well be sold for a couple of hundred. Stolen tools are also difficult to trace, although they can be marked.

 

Indeed, while its less worse than it was the Scrap trade could do with proper licensing for a number of reasons

 

I would certainly want the scrap trade to be overseen far more closely, not just licensing dealers but proper diligence when people weigh stuff in. Especially for non-ferrous metals and pre-ww2 cast iron/steel.

Many years ago, one of my fundraising methods was collecting newspapers to weigh in (I even had an official skip at a local school ...) I had to prove an address and a bank account before the paper mill would accept the stuff, I had an a/c for ages, before the rules about transporting waste were changed and my small estate car didn't pass muster.

 

It's school holidays time again, which may, or may not, have a bearing on the latest vandalism attack. Covered today also on BBC Look North. It appears to be a DMU coach to me but others can confirm.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-49070464

 

It is a dmu coach... 117 TCL iirc

 

Now the KWVR has been hit. I get the feeling that this sort of incident is on the rise. I just hope the railways font find it necessary to fortify themselves with palisade fencing.

https://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news...SOFjh86WFagrS7GKFQUmoyEs4FA1OWmjKb19sOJ6rEbks

 

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/vandals-strike-again-heritage-railway-3191218

 

Vandals strike at the Swindon and Cricklade Railway. <BJ>



Vandals strike twice at Wiltshire vintage railwayImage caption: Vandals strike twice at Wiltshire vintage railway.
Volunteers from a charity which runs vintage railway journeys are facing repair bills in the thousands of pounds after being targeted twice by vandals.

Two incidents in the early hours of the morning at the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, one on Tuesday 13 August and the second on Saturday 17 August, left five vintage carriages damaged.

PC Teresa Herbert from Wiltshire Police said: “The railway is a charity and is run by a group of dedicated volunteers who give up their time not just because they have a keen interest in the railways, but to enable members of the public, both young and old, to enjoy the facilities and it is extremely disappointing to hear of these latest incidents which have threatened to disrupt some of the school holiday activities they regularly host. The members tell me the impact on them is considerable. They are now facing a bill for several thousands of pounds, and in operational terms, it also puts them back several months, if not years''.