Saturday 13 December 2014

Defender


I've just had an email from a friend of mine who tells me that his beloved Land Rover Defender has been stolen from right outside his house last night, at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac.

Even worse, it was full of his tools (he is a metal worker) including angle-grinders, welders, hammers, etc. He is now stuffed as far as getting to work and earning a living goes, and he is not a wealthy person, but a hard worker.

That's him, his dog Dolly and the Landy, when he delivered a large lump of marble to one of my clients for me a few years ago. All the client's cars are fitted with hidden satellite trackers, but he wouldn't have thought that necessary. The number-plates are probably off already, but I have a running search for the same model on eBay now, in case the thieves are stupid enough to put it up there. It happens.

I had an uncle who used to say that 'stealing a man's tools' was one of the lowest things you could do as a human being - meaning that you leave him without a livelihood, rather than just taking money which has already been earned.

He keeps his vehicles for a long time - his previous van was on the road for about 40 years.

If you see it, let me know!


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11 comments:

  1. Rachel Phillips13 December 2014 at 04:35

    It is probably in a container waiting to be loaded at Felixstowe at this moment, or in a lock up being broken up. We have plenty of low life around here, farms and farm buildings in particular being an easy target. In many cases the police know where the stolen property is but dare not go in and do anything about it.


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    Replies
    1. Tom Stephenson13 December 2014 at 05:14

      Sadly, I think you are right. There's a big market for them in places like Africa, I think. And you are also right about the police - they are bloody useless.

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  2. elaine 13 December 2014 at 05:49

    There are plenty of low lifes about that's for sure - even in our sleepy little village we have had crime waves - one family had their four-wheel-drive stolen several times. Surely your friend will be insured?

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  3. Cro Magnon13 December 2014 at 07:22

    My thoughts were as Rachels. It's either already in bits, or on a ship to Nigeria. These guys don't hang about. Scum bags.

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  4. donna baker13 December 2014 at 08:28

    Sounds like America. It happens all the time here. You can't leave your car in the driveway, to warm-up in winter. Do they not insure over there? The insurers are the downfall of society in America, unless you need them of course.

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  5. Mise13 December 2014 at 09:16

    What a mean and despicable thing to do. He will have loved that car; people do love their Defenders. A curse upon the thieves.

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  6. Sol13 December 2014 at 09:37

    Their is a word for the people who took it. it starts with B and ends in d. When our Landy isnt being used we remove the battery and the steering wheel. We got the nod about this the last time it went to the garage. they kept having them stolen from the forecourt. We have a P reg we want to keep it as long as possible. the Mr went on a welding course so we can maintain it more ourselves.

    We had on 2 occasions found drunk people on the roof when we lived elsewhere and traffic cones and fast food boxes.

    I will keep my eye out on my travels HTO on the number plate that is how I will remember.

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  7. Sherry13 December 2014 at 10:18

    My hubs, who is a retired carpenter, had a truck load of tools stolen many years ago. We had young children at the time... It was rough. It took us a very long time to replace all of those tools. Bastards.

    I hope your friend is able to recover something.

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  8. Tom Stephenson13 December 2014 at 12:35

    Thanks for all your comments - I will reply to each in the morning.

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