Murdered trying to save his Land Rover
Discussion
Everyone will have seen the recent court case where James Simpson was tragically murdered when trying to save his beloved Land Rover from thieves.
There have been some threads here recently about people getting their cars stolen and it has really made me wonder, what would you do in this same case?
It would appear that they had previously scouted the area, knew where the LR was kept, and already had a buyer for it.
I just can't see me doing anything different to what Mr Simpson did - its the natural reaction isn't it? Yes, if you are rational and sitting behind a keyboard you might say something different but if someone has smashed your front door to get your car keys, you are going to give chase aren't you?
Some say "if they want it they are going to get it" no matter what security devices you have, someone else I know leaves his car unlocked so that people won't make any damage to find out that he doesn't have anything of valuable inside the car.
When I used to work in supermarkets, we were instructed not to chase shoplifters once they had left the store - I would regularly find myself chasing folk through the carpark and into underpasses for the sake of a bottle of vodka that didn't actually belong to me - the adrenalin kicks in and the rationale disappears!
At the end of the day it is just a lump of metal but that lump of metal is a symbol for, in most cases, lots of hard work, earnings, sacrifices etc and human nature is to not let go.
A terrible tragedy and God knows what his wife felt when she witnessed it all.
There have been some threads here recently about people getting their cars stolen and it has really made me wonder, what would you do in this same case?
It would appear that they had previously scouted the area, knew where the LR was kept, and already had a buyer for it.
I just can't see me doing anything different to what Mr Simpson did - its the natural reaction isn't it? Yes, if you are rational and sitting behind a keyboard you might say something different but if someone has smashed your front door to get your car keys, you are going to give chase aren't you?
Some say "if they want it they are going to get it" no matter what security devices you have, someone else I know leaves his car unlocked so that people won't make any damage to find out that he doesn't have anything of valuable inside the car.
When I used to work in supermarkets, we were instructed not to chase shoplifters once they had left the store - I would regularly find myself chasing folk through the carpark and into underpasses for the sake of a bottle of vodka that didn't actually belong to me - the adrenalin kicks in and the rationale disappears!
At the end of the day it is just a lump of metal but that lump of metal is a symbol for, in most cases, lots of hard work, earnings, sacrifices etc and human nature is to not let go.
A terrible tragedy and God knows what his wife felt when she witnessed it all.
S2red said:
...One thing we can all learn from this sad case is dont leave keys easily accessable
Not sure I really agree to be honest... yes his easily accessible keys were stolen but the tragedy was he went out and they ran him over, despite already having his car. And from what I read, then reversed over him (hence the jury's refusal to accept a reduced plea). What I've learned is that I would rather wake up in the morning and find my insured car gone from the drive, than be woken up in my bed by a professional scrote who wants to know where I've hidden the keys.
The OP is right - when the red mist descends you'll do things you may regret. I also worked in a shop as a kid and used to chase junkies to save a couple of packs of bacon or whatever. Had knives and needles pulled on me on occasion for the sake of a couple of quids worth of the shop's stock. And pretty sure I would still do the same if I saw my car disappearing. Better if they want it, they take it quietly. Might sound cowardly but I've a lot more to lose than them at the end of the day... the sad fact is, these days if someone wants your stuff they'll get it. And I'd prefer not to end up the next headline in the process.
The alternative is to do a Tony Martin, but it still ruins your life, doesn't it?
I had an M5 stolen the same way four years ago and I only live a few miles from Larkhall. A week or two previously two guys followd my wife home from the supermarket and sat directly outside the house as she went in with the shopping and my five year old son. I arrived home at the same time to see them sitting outside the house. I had a good look at them and it was two guys with black hair. I am not 100% sure it was them but two weeks later at 2am they smashed through my front door when we were in bed and nicked my car. From the pictures I have seen in the paper it could well have been this guy. By the time I woke up and came too my car was driving away. I went down stairs in bare feet with glass lying all over the floor.
The car had a tracker and I phoned the police, within 20 minutes the car was found in Cambuslang. We ended up selling the house as my wife could not settle.
The car had a tracker and I phoned the police, within 20 minutes the car was found in Cambuslang. We ended up selling the house as my wife could not settle.
A number of years ago in NE England, know someone who found he was being "followed" into his estate in, I think, his XR2.
He drove into a neighbours drive to see where they went.
A day later his neighbour had his garage broken into.
Not a nice thing to do to your neighbour, don't think he thought about it at the time of his actions but just shows, you can never be too careful
He drove into a neighbours drive to see where they went.
A day later his neighbour had his garage broken into.
Not a nice thing to do to your neighbour, don't think he thought about it at the time of his actions but just shows, you can never be too careful
As an aside, this is the first time in the UK anyone has been convicted of murder using a vehicle. Pretty important case (taking away the tragedy).
I plank my keys, everything is alarmed/ graded padlocks, but if they can still get it then I suppose it's an excuse to buy something more mental to ease my grief
I plank my keys, everything is alarmed/ graded padlocks, but if they can still get it then I suppose it's an excuse to buy something more mental to ease my grief
I leave all keys to my car/van downstairs within easy reach, I'd far rather that they find them and take the car with minimal fuss if it ever happened to me, the car is insured, loss or injury to my son, OH or myself even is not and we cannot be replaced, the car can be.
Years ago I would have not taken this attitude but the safety of my family is a bigger priority than a car
Years ago I would have not taken this attitude but the safety of my family is a bigger priority than a car
Its hardly exotica that I have but its still what I've worked hard to get & made sacrifices along the way to keep. Since the kids came along however my priorities have changed dramatically.
In years gone by I'd have been out after them with a conveniently placed tool in my hands but now its a simple matter of me being more important to my kids than the cars are to me.
If some thieving little c*** decides he wants to go for a play in my car or someone has taken an order for it - to the point where they've let themselves in to my house, they can have it, end of.
Pretty sure their lifestyle choices will catch them up and I can replace a car easy enough.
In years gone by I'd have been out after them with a conveniently placed tool in my hands but now its a simple matter of me being more important to my kids than the cars are to me.
If some thieving little c*** decides he wants to go for a play in my car or someone has taken an order for it - to the point where they've let themselves in to my house, they can have it, end of.
Pretty sure their lifestyle choices will catch them up and I can replace a car easy enough.
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