Keep an eye out for this story

Escapee · 29-01-2005, 12:57

I have just come back from my parents with an amazing story!

The car crime has become very bad in our area, I think it's about the worst place in Wales these days. My father had his van stolen last year and has some very good security measures that he mentioned to another neighbour.

Last night a car was stolen from the street again, the method is to get in and break the steering lock, run the car down the steep hill away from the houses so they then have time to get it started. (My fathers van even had the distributer cap off and they opened the bonnet to replace it)
This rolling down the hill method happened last night, but the car crashed with the driver hurting his chest and the passenger banging his head on the windscreen, both of these criminal were caught. The owner of the car has been questioned by police but not charged as yet, he has implemented the same security method that my father now has. He has a bracket with a pin and a padlock to stop the brake pedal being pushed down, this has obviously proved to be effective because it helped to catch these two scum.

I expect the case could be quite public if the police decide to press charges on the owner of the vehicle!

Halcyon · 29-01-2005, 13:09

Just like the farmer who defended his property with his rifle, I'm sure the Police will come down on him when in fact he was only trying to secure his own vehicle.
Plus you have to remember the actual thieves might put in a claim and ask for loads of money becuase they were severly injured. lol.
Well its their own blooming fault if they are injured. They should go to jail and that should be the end of it.

danielf · 29-01-2005, 13:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Just like the farmer who defended his property with his rifle, I'm sure the Police will come down on him when in fact he was only trying to secure his own vehicle.
Plus you have to remember the actual thieves might put in a claim and ask for loads of money becuase they were severly injured. lol.
Well its their own blooming fault if they are injured. They should go to jail and that should be the end of it.

They probably will go to jail. Why anyone would try to secure his vehicle in such a way that the thief might get killed is beyond me though.

**Paul M** · 29-01-2005, 13:14

They deserve everything they get, thieving ******* .

danielf · 29-01-2005, 13:35

Thinking about this a bit more, what if an innocent bystander were to be injured/killed because the thieves are unable to break? Very irresponsible move by the car owner. I think charges may well be in order, if only to deter others from doing the same.

Nemesis · 29-01-2005, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Thinking about this a bit more, what if an innocent bystander were to be injured/killed because the thieves are unable to break? Very irresponsible move by the car owner. I think charges may well be in order, if only to deter others from doing the same.

no chance, the same could be said of steering locks ....

Escapee · 29-01-2005, 13:38

Well, you only get burnt if you play with fire

It sounds like they are not going to press charges though, as the only real thing they have him on is a vehicle that's not roadworthy at the time it was stolen.

I think it's great, I like that sort of justice. A known joyrider not old enough to hold a driving licence in our area killed himslef and a couple of his mates about 2-3 years ago, I was amazed how many poeple were complaining and saying it was because the road was dangerous where he crashed whilst driving at high speed.

Wake up, he was breaking the law and had stolen some innocent persons car

**Russ B** · 29-01-2005, 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Thinking about this a bit more, what if an innocent bystander were to be injured/killed because the thieves are unable to break? Very irresponsible move by the car owner. I think charges may well be in order, if only to deter others from doing the same.

Then again had the 2 idiots been at home, at their mates' house, in WORK or even just been honest people then the whole thing wouldn't have happened.

danielf · 29-01-2005, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

Then again had the 2 idiots been at home, at their mates' house, in WORK or even just been honest people then the whole thing wouldn't have happened.

I'm not denying that. All I'm saying is that I would not willfully protect my car in such a way that it might kill someone who tries to steal it (or an innocent third person).

**Russ B** · 29-01-2005, 13:46

As Nem says, the steering lock does the same kind of thing.

danielf · 29-01-2005, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

As Nem says, the steering lock does the same kind of thing.

Yes, I'm thinking about that. It still allows you bring the vehicle to a halt though...

**Russ B** · 29-01-2005, 13:50

What about those steering locks which hook under the brake pedal?

danielf · 29-01-2005, 13:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

What about those steering locks which hook under the brake pedal?

Are they also not quite obvious? I have no problem with this if it is obvious you might hurt yourself trying to steal this car. In that case, it is just sheer stupidity on the part of the thieve. If you only notice when the vehicle is in motion it's a different matter.

Nemesis · 29-01-2005, 13:55

Thinking more about this .... rolling a car down a hill, without the engine running would mean that the brakes probably wouldn't work either. Most modern cars are servo assisted in the brake dept.

So .... car thief is taking his life in his own hands. The idea that someone can bypass an alarm, immobiliser, steering lock & roll the car away for a safe start is a risky business. Effectively they are taking a risk, both with getting caught, and with the damage they may have caused. If it ends with a crash, or other problem, they they knew the risks.

The same coud be said of the big metal steering wheel locks or the autolock handbrake locks. If they hurt themselves in any way getting this equipment off, then it's their problem, not the owners.

Securing your car (on the inside), and that subsequently causing injury to a criminal, would be very difficult for the Police to prosecute the owner.

Escapee · 29-01-2005, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

What about those steering locks which hook under the brake pedal?

I haven seen them for many years, I remember the old umberella type that were pretty useless, I guess there could be a more substantial version these days.

I do always wonder though, without starting a big argument here

What people are like who think it's bad that these criminals were injured or could of been killed?

My profile, is I work, pay taxes, bought a car, bought a house now, only have one criminal offence to my name, I have only once taken a soft drug, I do not go out to get drunk and look for trouble, I have never robbed from anyone, I have never mugged anyone, I have never ripped anyone off, I have never been in a stolen car, none of my family to my knowledge have been in prison for any of those offences either.

So I guess it's easy to see why i think a criminal gets all they deserve!

PS: I would guess to what Nemesis says, they probably roll the car with the brakes on gently, as there is a bus stop further down the hill in a quiet spot. It's the sort of hill that doesn't look that steep at first, but they probably got the car rolling and within about 20 feet needed to apply the brakes to keep the speed down etc.