We had our caravan all packed up to go, Izuzu Trooper filled with diesel parked alongside on the Friday night before we were due to go on a two week holiday in Dorset.
When we got up at 4.30am on the Saturday morning we found out that some swine had tried to steal the Trooper. The door lock had been forced and in trying to get the steering lock off, they had bent the column around until the indicator was pointing at the floor. Thankfully they had not suceeded but the damage caused to the door lock and steering column prevented us getting away on our hols. It ws so damaged we could even not get the ignition key in. How I did not hear anything I do not know as some considerable force had been used.
The insurance company were typically useless, promising to send someone out by Wednesday /thursday. Police gave same response although the forensics guy did come out that morning unexpectedly and tried to get some prints.
Problem was to get the damage fixed before our holiday was lost. The main dealer in Shrewsbury could only promise they might be able to fit us in by the following Thursday if they could get the parts. I could see our holiday disappearing fast at this point.
Thankfully we had the brainwave of contacting a local guy who buys and sells 4wds and he had an old Trooper he was keeping for spares around the back of his premises. He was able to take the parts required off that and got us going on the Monday. We collected vehicle at 2pm and were down in Dorset by 6.30pm. The two days we had lost were pretty windy so we did not lose out too much.
Our Trooper is an old M reg model and I can't think why anyone would want to steal it given that the values have supposed to have dropped with the high cost of fuel. The diesel would have made them more profit with less effort. Nothing was stolen from the vehicle, there was a full tool kit in the back even which they did not bother with.
So be aware, no vehicle, no matter how old is safe from some thieving sod who just passes by and fancies his chances.
I might add that we live in a quiet country area down a road that is only used by the locals as it only loops around back to the village. Do these people just aimlessly drive around at night just looking for something to nick???
When we got up at 4.30am on the Saturday morning we found out that some swine had tried to steal the Trooper. The door lock had been forced and in trying to get the steering lock off, they had bent the column around until the indicator was pointing at the floor. Thankfully they had not suceeded but the damage caused to the door lock and steering column prevented us getting away on our hols. It ws so damaged we could even not get the ignition key in. How I did not hear anything I do not know as some considerable force had been used.
The insurance company were typically useless, promising to send someone out by Wednesday /thursday. Police gave same response although the forensics guy did come out that morning unexpectedly and tried to get some prints.
Problem was to get the damage fixed before our holiday was lost. The main dealer in Shrewsbury could only promise they might be able to fit us in by the following Thursday if they could get the parts. I could see our holiday disappearing fast at this point.
Thankfully we had the brainwave of contacting a local guy who buys and sells 4wds and he had an old Trooper he was keeping for spares around the back of his premises. He was able to take the parts required off that and got us going on the Monday. We collected vehicle at 2pm and were down in Dorset by 6.30pm. The two days we had lost were pretty windy so we did not lose out too much.
Our Trooper is an old M reg model and I can't think why anyone would want to steal it given that the values have supposed to have dropped with the high cost of fuel. The diesel would have made them more profit with less effort. Nothing was stolen from the vehicle, there was a full tool kit in the back even which they did not bother with.
So be aware, no vehicle, no matter how old is safe from some thieving sod who just passes by and fancies his chances.
I might add that we live in a quiet country area down a road that is only used by the locals as it only loops around back to the village. Do these people just aimlessly drive around at night just looking for something to nick???
Facebook
Twitter