Went into Asda fuel station yesterday, on the way in we passed a motorhome at the airpump bit, admired the said vehicle and went to the pumps. Alan got out to fill up and i was sat in the front passenger seat, the motorhome appeared to my left and while i was thinking, "gosh, i wouldnt have driven (if i could drive) that through there," i heard someone shout " stop you B*****d " the motorhome then speeded up, drove across the newly planted flower beds, out down the exit road, having to mount the pavement on some occasions to get round the cars in his way and off down the road that leads, eventually , to the M1. I sat there much to my shame and did nothing. In hindsight, i know i should have dialed 999 but i was so shocked at what i had just seen, i never thought. What i cant get over is, i never saw anyone hanging about as we drove in. And the poor guy who owned it.... well what can you say, i assume he must have left the keys in the ignition, in which case, will his insurers pay out? The vehicle was only a couple of years old, alan tells me it was an 08 plate.If you read this Mr motorhome owner, im so sorry i did nothing to help, i was more concerned i suppose with the what ifs, asda has recently changed to the self service pumps where you put your card in the pump first and if alan had have needed me to help ( hes not very technical) the thieves could have taken our door off, or worse, if id have been half way out of the car, it just doesnt bear thinking about. Anyway, sorry for rambling on.
stolen motorhome
- Thread starter MagsAlan
- Start date
The thing is,it probably happened very fast compared to how you are reflecting on it now. The safety of you and your Alan were most important. Also.You are going to be very suspicious and vigilant from now on (at service stations and otherwise)which can have its benefits. The owner will have dialed 999. Take care.
While I do empathise with you Mags & Alan, you probably took the right steps by keeping out of the way. The sort of person who is brazen enough to steal a motorhome at a petrol forecourt isn't worried about cctv or people being around.
I always lock our car at the petrol pumps when I go to pay. On my old caravan, I used to tow it locked to the car. As we are now seasonal caravanners at present (fulltimers), We have a birds eye view of just how much "loot for the swag bag" people leave out all week. Aqual rolls
I always lock our car at the petrol pumps when I go to pay. On my old caravan, I used to tow it locked to the car. As we are now seasonal caravanners at present (fulltimers), We have a birds eye view of just how much "loot for the swag bag" people leave out all week. Aqual rolls
The part that concerns me, is that there was someone hanging around a petrol station waiting for someone to leave the keys in a vehicle or someone that saw the keys & took a chance.
A few years ago, my son dropped his Switch card in a shop, someone picked it up, then pretty much emptied his bank account within an hour in 10 other shops, bad luck ? or is the UK riddled with people just waiting for the easy opportunity to be criminals ?
A few years ago, my son dropped his Switch card in a shop, someone picked it up, then pretty much emptied his bank account within an hour in 10 other shops, bad luck ? or is the UK riddled with people just waiting for the easy opportunity to be criminals ?
Hi Nick I am afraid that this country is riddled with people waiting to pounce on the unsuspected.
Was on a coach trip stop over Newcastle before heading south.
Coach pulled up to the hotel that was situated on the top of other shops , The hotel porters coming down via the lift to take the cases up into the Hotel, some unfortunate passengers their cases never arrived, some of the porters were fakes ,we were all shocked rigid to think this could happen in the middle of Newcastle in broad daylight.
Often been towing my van down various motorways , noticing white van following no indication of overtaking, since I never fill up or stop whilst towing the van ,after several miles they do overtake, often wonder if they are waiting for me turn off , into a service area.
What happened to the motorhome guy is quite common, people do prey on garage forcourts,the thieves opportunist watch out for , odd mistake like leaving your keys in the vechicle, I am lucky with my car if I happen to leave the key in the ignition with the engine switched off and open the drivers door, I get a very loud whistle to remind me to take the key out.
Was on a coach trip stop over Newcastle before heading south.
Coach pulled up to the hotel that was situated on the top of other shops , The hotel porters coming down via the lift to take the cases up into the Hotel, some unfortunate passengers their cases never arrived, some of the porters were fakes ,we were all shocked rigid to think this could happen in the middle of Newcastle in broad daylight.
Often been towing my van down various motorways , noticing white van following no indication of overtaking, since I never fill up or stop whilst towing the van ,after several miles they do overtake, often wonder if they are waiting for me turn off , into a service area.
What happened to the motorhome guy is quite common, people do prey on garage forcourts,the thieves opportunist watch out for , odd mistake like leaving your keys in the vechicle, I am lucky with my car if I happen to leave the key in the ignition with the engine switched off and open the drivers door, I get a very loud whistle to remind me to take the key out.
Royston, that is almost unbelievable.
Steve in Leo, I appreciate what you say but it does beg the question "why should you have to take those measures ?"
On both of the last couple of trips back to the UK people have come up to me in supermarket car parks telling me that I shouldn't leave my SatNav stuck to the windscreen,
I wouldn't even think about taking it off in a car park at home in France & when I asked French friends if they would remove theirs, just looked at me as if I were mad.
Steve in Leo, I appreciate what you say but it does beg the question "why should you have to take those measures ?"
On both of the last couple of trips back to the UK people have come up to me in supermarket car parks telling me that I shouldn't leave my SatNav stuck to the windscreen,
I wouldn't even think about taking it off in a car park at home in France & when I asked French friends if they would remove theirs, just looked at me as if I were mad.
Good News!! although i don't know the details, I'm pleased to report that the vehicle was recovered very shortly after it was stolen, not too far away.
That is fantastic news, Sounds like he had Tracker on board, I agree its a sad world we live in , where you you have to pay out lots of hard earnt cash just to keep what you have purchased.
Read in todays Colchesters local paper , Paramedics had just taken a patient into the Emergency dept, when they returned a thief had stolen their Red First response bag, which stopped the Ambulance from attending another urgent call out, Time of day just after 7-30 am . It beggers belief what sort of a country we are turning out to be.
Royston
Read in todays Colchesters local paper , Paramedics had just taken a patient into the Emergency dept, when they returned a thief had stolen their Red First response bag, which stopped the Ambulance from attending another urgent call out, Time of day just after 7-30 am . It beggers belief what sort of a country we are turning out to be.
Royston
Unbelievable isnt it. There are some real toerags out there. Sadly, they are the ones that make us all trust no one.
- Jun 20, 2005
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A happy ending but it could have been very different.
1. Never ever leave the ignition keys in the vehicle unless you are actually in the drivers seat.
2.The majority of motor insurers will refuse your claim if the keys were left in the vehicle unattended. A number of County Court decisions have tried to "split hairs" over the word "unattended" . Do you want the hastle?
3. Never leave the caravan unattended at motorway service stations. Take it in turns if you need the toilet or use your own facilities.
4. Again ensure you fully comply with the caravan insurers small print on security requirements.
Cheers
Dustydog
1. Never ever leave the ignition keys in the vehicle unless you are actually in the drivers seat.
2.The majority of motor insurers will refuse your claim if the keys were left in the vehicle unattended. A number of County Court decisions have tried to "split hairs" over the word "unattended" . Do you want the hastle?
3. Never leave the caravan unattended at motorway service stations. Take it in turns if you need the toilet or use your own facilities.
4. Again ensure you fully comply with the caravan insurers small print on security requirements.
Cheers
Dustydog
As I use the service stations quite alot up and down m5 m42 in HGV, im gobsmacked the amount of people that drive in with new/newish van in tow, get out lock car and walk off to the service area, often I do take a look to see if the hitch is locked and mostly not. We dont even leave the van even if we locked the hitch, theres alot of thieving scumbags about
Kevin
Kevin
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