Scumbag Stole Wallet From My Car
Discussion
This morning I pull into the driveway where I'm working, get my tools out of the truck and go into the house to start on the job at hand. The location is in a small quiet village where everyone knows everyone and everyone's business, a safe location on the face of things. Around 11:00 I pop back to the truck to find my driver's door not fully closed, the centre console not clicked down and the strap from my house keys hanging out - not how I would ever leave any of these. My wallet is missing. So I immediately call the police who come over to look for finger prints but this proves futile. No clues, no witnesses and no hope of ever retrieving my possession and money.
I have been working at this job for a coúple months now and see the bin men pass every Friday between 7:00 and 8:30. I'm always parked on the drive right against the house. Today was one of few exceptions when due to lack of space I am forced to park at the very bottom of the neighbour's drive (with their kind permission) which is on the other side of a tall hedge and therefore the truck is obscured from my view. It is also probably the only time that I haven't locked the truck due to a false sense of security that I'm starting my day early in a seemingly safe location and will be back and forth to get tools.
Now, I cannot be 100% sure but have a good cause to pin the theft on one of the bin men. They obviously know I'm parked in a different spot which I cannot see and am myself out of sight inside the house. Whoever helped themselves didn't take another wallet full of cards (all being member/loyalty type, but who would know that), a camera or designer sunglasses. Hence, this was obviously opportunistic and incredibly rushed (i.e. getting back to the bin lorry before anyone sees?).
The bin lorries are owned by Biffa who I am led to believe have CCTV on their trucks. Is there any way I can get them to view the video from that day? Or would the police have any interest in trying to gain this footage? It seems unlikely that Biffa would cooperate and potentially incriminate themselves, owning up to one of their staff being on the rob.
Failing that, would confronting all of them/the gang's leader next Friday be worthwhile? I wouldn't expect anyone to own up or return my cash, but maybe convince someone to anonymously post the wallet back through the letterbox?
I have been working at this job for a coúple months now and see the bin men pass every Friday between 7:00 and 8:30. I'm always parked on the drive right against the house. Today was one of few exceptions when due to lack of space I am forced to park at the very bottom of the neighbour's drive (with their kind permission) which is on the other side of a tall hedge and therefore the truck is obscured from my view. It is also probably the only time that I haven't locked the truck due to a false sense of security that I'm starting my day early in a seemingly safe location and will be back and forth to get tools.
Now, I cannot be 100% sure but have a good cause to pin the theft on one of the bin men. They obviously know I'm parked in a different spot which I cannot see and am myself out of sight inside the house. Whoever helped themselves didn't take another wallet full of cards (all being member/loyalty type, but who would know that), a camera or designer sunglasses. Hence, this was obviously opportunistic and incredibly rushed (i.e. getting back to the bin lorry before anyone sees?).
The bin lorries are owned by Biffa who I am led to believe have CCTV on their trucks. Is there any way I can get them to view the video from that day? Or would the police have any interest in trying to gain this footage? It seems unlikely that Biffa would cooperate and potentially incriminate themselves, owning up to one of their staff being on the rob.
Failing that, would confronting all of them/the gang's leader next Friday be worthwhile? I wouldn't expect anyone to own up or return my cash, but maybe convince someone to anonymously post the wallet back through the letterbox?
A few years ago my ex FIL had his dog stolen (yes, dog) by a door to door window salesman. A call to the window company saw the dog returned and the salesman fired, so there is hope for you going down the biffa route. I don't think confronting them directly will get you a result.
Then again it could have been the postie or anyone for that matter....
Then again it could have been the postie or anyone for that matter....
I do hope you have stopped all your plastic cards.
It seems to me that there's no evidence to connect anyone to this. It could be a kid on a bike.
Years ago, I lived in a similar quiet village, parked outside my house on a hot day, locked the car but left the sunroof open and went inside. An hour later I glanced out of an outside window to see a bloke leaning through the sun roof rummaging through the cabin.
He'd gone by the time I made it downstairs. Didn't get anything.
I still live in a very quiet 'posh' village in the middle of nowhere. Stuff goes missing all the time; garden tools and water butts, alloy wheels, anything not bolted down. We have suspicious callers trying to get in the house on the pretext of being from the water company, fake meter readers, distraction robberies in the High Street etc.
I've had car radios levered out the dashboard, Honda Scooter stolen, car keyed, etc. All 'general low level crime.' It's endemic.
Lock it or loose it. The scrotes are everywhere and chances of being caught very low. Kids on bikes are silent, and mostly faster than 999 calls.
It seems to me that there's no evidence to connect anyone to this. It could be a kid on a bike.
Years ago, I lived in a similar quiet village, parked outside my house on a hot day, locked the car but left the sunroof open and went inside. An hour later I glanced out of an outside window to see a bloke leaning through the sun roof rummaging through the cabin.
He'd gone by the time I made it downstairs. Didn't get anything.
I still live in a very quiet 'posh' village in the middle of nowhere. Stuff goes missing all the time; garden tools and water butts, alloy wheels, anything not bolted down. We have suspicious callers trying to get in the house on the pretext of being from the water company, fake meter readers, distraction robberies in the High Street etc.
I've had car radios levered out the dashboard, Honda Scooter stolen, car keyed, etc. All 'general low level crime.' It's endemic.
Lock it or loose it. The scrotes are everywhere and chances of being caught very low. Kids on bikes are silent, and mostly faster than 999 calls.
EViS said:
Failing that, would confronting all of them/the gang's leader next Friday be worthwhile? I
Yeah, go for it. Make sure you video their reaction to being called thieves though. I mean, you have literally no reason to think it was anyone else going past in the many hours your car was unlocked, stands to reason it was one of them.
TBH I'd consider it a wake-up call (I'm assuming it wasn't too much dough) and be glad they didn't nick more expensive and inconvenience making tools etc. I have added deadbolts on my van and the scrotes still try ramming screwdrivers into the locks, whats to lose when the cops here just seem to pat them on the head and go "aww poor little scumbag has to steal, don't you just feel terrible for them?"
Think it's a bold move to pin it on the dustmen, I certainly think you're wrong they'd remember details such as what vans on what drive, coulda been anyone within a several-hour timeframe- kids, p!keys often tour the route on bin days here looking for scrap/anything to steal
Think it's a bold move to pin it on the dustmen, I certainly think you're wrong they'd remember details such as what vans on what drive, coulda been anyone within a several-hour timeframe- kids, p!keys often tour the route on bin days here looking for scrap/anything to steal
I was told by someone to be cautious about vans. They have apparently been targeted for theft, especially in rural areas as most tradesmen don't lock their vans, some don't even remove the keys from the ignition!
Apparently the thieves will follow you from a merchants, to a job and strike as you are going back and forth to the property whilst unloading tools. Years ago, one of the guys I worked with, placed a boiler on the pavement, next to the van, went in the house to put some tools in, came back and the boiler had been pinched!
Apparently the thieves will follow you from a merchants, to a job and strike as you are going back and forth to the property whilst unloading tools. Years ago, one of the guys I worked with, placed a boiler on the pavement, next to the van, went in the house to put some tools in, came back and the boiler had been pinched!
Rickyy said:
I was told by someone to be cautious about vans. They have apparently been targeted for theft, especially in rural areas as most tradesmen don't lock their vans, some don't even remove the keys from the ignition!
Apparently the thieves will follow you from a merchants, to a job and strike as you are going back and forth to the property whilst unloading tools. Years ago, one of the guys I worked with, placed a boiler on the pavement, next to the van, went in the house to put some tools in, came back and the boiler had been pinched!
They are massively targeted and the thieves can be quite brazen as they know the "better" hits are heavily deadbolted up at night and you won't get in without lots of noise regardless of an alarm or not.Apparently the thieves will follow you from a merchants, to a job and strike as you are going back and forth to the property whilst unloading tools. Years ago, one of the guys I worked with, placed a boiler on the pavement, next to the van, went in the house to put some tools in, came back and the boiler had been pinched!
One guy recently was in B&Q and noticed wherever he went some same guy was not far from him, but seemingly oblivious babbling away in an east european language on a cellphone. when he got outside his van had been completely emptied by another van that'd pulled alongside- the cellphone guy was the spotter.
Another guy I was chatting to in a wholesaler was vanjacked at gunpoint at a set of traffic lights (bounds green road/north circ)
If it were me I'd just cancel the cards and view the lost cash as punishment for not locking the truck. You've absolutely no evidence it was anything to do with the bin men. It might have been, it might not, you'll never know. Be thankful whoever it was left everything else behind.
Personally I lock every time. Petrol stations, getting out to post a letter, doesn't matter. If I was selective about when & where I locked it eventually I'd make the wrong choice!
Personally I lock every time. Petrol stations, getting out to post a letter, doesn't matter. If I was selective about when & where I locked it eventually I'd make the wrong choice!
Edited by Risotto on Monday 3rd August 21:06
Just as an FYI Mrs P had her purse stolen out of our landrover at a local public park about 10 years ago.
Because it had her bank cards, credit cards, and her driving licence in it they got all of her personal details including the home address.
The £100 odd or so cash was never the issue, but the identity theft that followed was a total nightmare.
Within two weeks of the theft, we had about 10+ new Vodafone mobile contracts signed up to our address using the cards.
The real problem here was that Vodafone, did not believe it we not us taking out the new contracts, it took al oat a year to get them cancelled and the money back despite being nothing to do with us!
So make sure you cancel everything immediately!
Because it had her bank cards, credit cards, and her driving licence in it they got all of her personal details including the home address.
The £100 odd or so cash was never the issue, but the identity theft that followed was a total nightmare.
Within two weeks of the theft, we had about 10+ new Vodafone mobile contracts signed up to our address using the cards.
The real problem here was that Vodafone, did not believe it we not us taking out the new contracts, it took al oat a year to get them cancelled and the money back despite being nothing to do with us!
So make sure you cancel everything immediately!
Thanks for the replies chaps, obviously a mixed bag of opinions, just like mine. All cards were cancelled and replacements already on their way. A fair bit of cash and a designer wallet means it was a sizable loss 
. I'm always so anal about keeping the back of the truck out of view as not to tempt anyone with tool theft at a latter time and likewise always lock up the moment I walk away. This is what makes the occurrence so much more annoying . The one time I let me guard down in a quiet little village and bam, I get targeted.
I appreciate I have no solid evidence against who may have or may not have pinched the wallet, but the likelihood, based on the scenario, is pretty strong. Shame there's probably more chance of winning the lotto than having my wallet returned. If only I had that cash to play a couple games
.
. I'm always so anal about keeping the back of the truck out of view as not to tempt anyone with tool theft at a latter time and likewise always lock up the moment I walk away. This is what makes the occurrence so much more annoying . The one time I let me guard down in a quiet little village and bam, I get targeted.I appreciate I have no solid evidence against who may have or may not have pinched the wallet, but the likelihood, based on the scenario, is pretty strong. Shame there's probably more chance of winning the lotto than having my wallet returned. If only I had that cash to play a couple games
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