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Thefts and Vandalism

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by rough-shunter, Dec 26, 2006.

  1. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    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.
     
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  3. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    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
     
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  4. RLinkinS

    RLinkinS Member

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    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.
     
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  5. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    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.
     
  6. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    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.
     
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  7. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    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!!
     
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  8. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    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! :D

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

    StoneRoad Member

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    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 ...
     
  10. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

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

    jnc Well-Known Member

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    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
     
  12. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    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
     
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  13. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    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.
     
  14. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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

    StoneRoad Member

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    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.
     
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  16. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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  17. weltrol

    weltrol Part of the furniture Friend

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    It is a dmu coach... 117 TCL iirc
     
  18. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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  19. worldsteam

    worldsteam Member

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  20. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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

    [​IMG]

    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''.
     

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