nightrider Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 As I pulled up outside a customers house this morning I couldn't help but notice that the cast iron grid from the street drain was missing, no doubt stolen for scrap. After we loaded the gear back on the van when we had finished the job, this missing grid was playing on my mind, the drain was 3' deep, can you imagine the damage someone could do to themselves had they stepped into it? I told my grandson that works with me to stand guard over it while I went a local builders yard where I bought a 2' square flag to put over it, if I had done nothing about it I would never have forgiven myself if someone had fell into it. But then again in this day and age of litigation should someone trip over the flag that I put down to stop someone falling into it I might be leaving myself wide open to be sued? ya caint win can ya.
Guest pelmetman Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 Good on you Malcolm. Not far from where we live a cyclist had an awful accident caused by some morons who stole a drain cover only last week. Sue
deerhound Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 I have posted this before, but here in the advance factory sites where the travelling mob go they have stolen most of the storm drain covers and last time 1 large sewer cover, also the aluminium signs for directions and factory names? >:-(
colin Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 REgular occurance around here, even on A roads 8-) , bloody dangerous, I wonder if theres a shortage now as last lot took ages to be replaced, local authority put cones in the 'hole'. At this rate must be worth seeing if they can be made in plastic.
nightrider Posted October 12, 2011 Author Posted October 12, 2011 Various items of street furniture can be made out of recycled scrap car tyres that are strong durable and weather resistant. You do not come across cast iron gully grids etc legitemately and as far as scrap metal dealers are concerned they are the biggest recievers of stolen goods. A quick simple way of reducing stolen metal being taken to scrap yards is to pay out by cheque rather than cash in the hand.
aultymer Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 even payment by cheque can be circumvented by the many cheque cashing companies around. Payment for scrap should only go to a traceable bank account by BACS transfer. Ah but then the dealers woud have to admit to buying known stolen goods. It wont happen under the free enterprise system. Normal business practice to buy from a guy at the door without checking if he owns the goods for sale. Clamp down on the scrappies - you know, the guys who buy chopped up war memorial plaques and drain covers and claim they didn't know they were stolen!! It is the people who buy stolen goods who cause crime. Think about that next time you are offered a 'cheap' item with a nudge and a wink - know what I mean?
Guest Peter James Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 deerhound - 2011-10-12 6:47 PM I have posted this before, but here in the advance factory sites where the travelling mob go they have stolen most of the storm drain covers and last time 1 large sewer cover, also the aluminium signs for directions and factory names? >:-( If you have got evidence of who stole them you should go to the Police. If you haven't got evidence you should not be libelling them on the internet.
Guest Tracker Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 The best way forward is to replace them with plastic covers now that modern plastics are strong and durable enough. Might have added that it didn't take long to get from Dale Farm to Malcolm's area did it - but i wouldn't want to defame anyone without proof so I won't mention it!
Guest pelmetman Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 Tracker - 2011-10-24 4:58 PM Might have added that it didn't take long to get from Dale Farm to Malcolm's area did it - but i wouldn't want to defame anyone without proof so I won't mention it!It was probably the local branch of the same community...... I mean company:D.......... that deals in scrap metal Rich;-)
nightrider Posted October 24, 2011 Author Posted October 24, 2011 Within a mile or two where I live there are two official travellers camps and they are bad news indeed, they are forever up and down the avenues hawking for scrap metal or tree pruning work, not only that the rubbish they have on their trucks that they have been paid to dispose of, they throw it in any builders skips that they come across and the poor old builders has to pay for tipping it. The area where the drain gully went missing, it is odds on that it was stolen by travellers who plague the area. I have 24 hour CCTV on my house because these cheeky b*****s have no qualms about mooching about in your back garden.
thebishbus Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 We have had this drain cover theft by us. I noticed some have been replaced with very strong looking white plastic ones. If these are ment as permanent replacements, it could be worth replacing them all with plastic, offsetting the cost with the scrap value of the metal, also avoiding these dangerous holes in the future. Brian B.
Guest Tracker Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 When we were house hunting we looked at a couple of properties that did seem to be exceptional vfm - then when we got close we discovered the reason - travellers caravan sites nearby. Upon asking a few questions locally it did appear anecdotaly at least that the closer you got to these hotspots the higher indeed was the rate of incidents - so we didn't bother! I'll bet there was a huge sigh of relief at Basildon last week - especially for anyone wanting to sell their property! Other than the scale of mess left behind when they move on there is of course no proof that these people cause the mayhem and crime waves alleged - but the perception remains and it must surely be based on something more than hysteria?
Lord Braykewynde Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 Tracker - 2011-10-24 8:28 PM I'll bet there was a huge sigh of relief at Basildon last week - especially for anyone wanting to sell their property! Don't forget there is still a large tinker presence on the 'legal site' so people will still find it difficult selling their homes. Poor sods :-(
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