What kind of criminal activity is going on here?

[Tony B2]

I happened to look outside my house, to the street, earlier this evening and saw a guy, phone in hand, pointing it at my cars, whilst talking to someone on his phone.
I immediately went outside to challenge him as he walked away in the middle of the road, having also pointed his phone at the next door neighbours cars too.
He was about 50 yards away, still walking away, he heard me, turned around momentarily, gave me a cheery wave and “Hi” and carried on.
Every car he passed, he appeared to video.
There were some expensive cars, including my own.

So what is the scam here?
Picking suitable vehicles for subsequent stealing, or capturing number plates for cloning?

Has anyone else come across such behaviour before attempted thefts?

I took some pictures of him, and he is visible on some neighbours security cameras.

[Geertsen]

My guess would be FaceTiming someone to show off at the fancy area he lives in (if it’s upmarket where you are).

My wife is much more cynical and says filming to steal the cars or catalytic converters. There have been a massive amount of catalytic converters stolen where we live (to the point where people have come up with some very odd contraptions to put around their cars to protect them and the police have had regular catalytic converter marking events). And where my parents live they have had a number of cars stolen in the village. Not saying it’s either of these things but we’ve seen a LOT of it lately.

If it was in daylight it’ be pretty stupid if he’s planning anything untoward.

[Dylano]

Surely if he had any criminal intent he could film the cars or number plates in a much more discreet manner?

If is a street full of expensive prestige cars my guess is he was just filming/facetiming them for innocent reasons.

[Baldchap]

I'd be purchasing a Stair Dominator 3000.

[Unreal]

Tony B2 said:

I happened to look outside my house, to the street, earlier this evening and saw a guy, phone in hand, pointing it at my cars, whilst talking to someone on his phone.
I immediately went outside to challenge him as he walked away in the middle of the road, having also pointed his phone at the next door neighbours cars too.
He was about 50 yards away, still walking away, he heard me, turned around momentarily, gave me a cheery wave and “Hi” and carried on.
Every car he passed, he appeared to video.
There were some expensive cars, including my own.

So what is the scam here?
Picking suitable vehicles for subsequent stealing, or capturing number plates for cloning?

Has anyone else come across such behaviour before attempted thefts?

I took some pictures of him, and he is visible on some neighbours security cameras.

You should have brandished your machete.

And how long is your drive?

[vikingaero]

Unreal said:

Tony B2 said:

I happened to look outside my house, to the street, earlier this evening and saw a guy, phone in hand, pointing it at my cars, whilst talking to someone on his phone.
I immediately went outside to challenge him as he walked away in the middle of the road, having also pointed his phone at the next door neighbours cars too.
He was about 50 yards away, still walking away, he heard me, turned around momentarily, gave me a cheery wave and “Hi” and carried on.
Every car he passed, he appeared to video.
There were some expensive cars, including my own.

So what is the scam here?
Picking suitable vehicles for subsequent stealing, or capturing number plates for cloning?

Has anyone else come across such behaviour before attempted thefts?

I took some pictures of him, and he is visible on some neighbours security cameras.

You should have brandished your machete.

And how long is your drive?

Obviously not long enough if he can see the street from his house.

[768]

This same thread turns up every 5 minutes.

No one ever comes back and says anything bad happened.

[Grumps.]

Geertsen said:

My guess would be FaceTiming someone to show off at the fancy area he lives in (if it’s upmarket where you are).

My wife is much more cynical and says filming to steal the cars or catalytic converters. There have been a massive amount of catalytic converters stolen where we live (to the point where people have come up with some very odd contraptions to put around their cars to protect them and the police have had regular catalytic converter marking events). And where my parents live they have had a number of cars stolen in the village. Not saying it’s either of these things but we’ve seen a LOT of it lately.

If it was in daylight it’ be pretty stupid if he’s planning anything untoward.

There are no fancy areas in Hampshire.

[Tony B2]

Unreal said:

Tony B2 said:

I happened to look outside my house, to the street, earlier this evening and saw a guy, phone in hand, pointing it at my cars, whilst talking to someone on his phone.
I immediately went outside to challenge him as he walked away in the middle of the road, having also pointed his phone at the next door neighbours cars too.
He was about 50 yards away, still walking away, he heard me, turned around momentarily, gave me a cheery wave and “Hi” and carried on.
Every car he passed, he appeared to video.
There were some expensive cars, including my own.

So what is the scam here?
Picking suitable vehicles for subsequent stealing, or capturing number plates for cloning?

Has anyone else come across such behaviour before attempted thefts?

I took some pictures of him, and he is visible on some neighbours security cameras.

You should have brandished your machete.

And how long is your drive?

Lol.
I don’t have a machete.
But I do have a dog….:-)

Unfortunately my drive is not long enough to accommodate the vehicles belonging to me and my wife.

[rodericb]

Geertsen said:

My guess would be FaceTiming someone to show off at the fancy area he lives in (if it’s upmarket where you are).

My wife is much more cynical and says filming to steal the cars or catalytic converters. There have been a massive amount of catalytic converters stolen where we live (to the point where people have come up with some very odd contraptions to put around their cars to protect them and the police have had regular catalytic converter marking events). And where my parents live they have had a number of cars stolen in the village. Not saying it’s either of these things but we’ve seen a LOT of it lately.

If it was in daylight it’ be pretty stupid if he’s planning anything untoward.

Yes, said person actually lives in your area and is boasting about it to his friends, or some strangers he loves to detail regularly on how successful he is in life. Yes, that's what it is..... I notice that a lot of houses in the UK have vast paved areas out the front where you can display the fruits of your success for all to admire. But getting back to our chap filming the local cars - the reason for his success? He's making a motza with his little sideline in catalytic converters

Edited by rodericb on Monday 12th June 08:35

[Cockaigne]

unfortunately filming is not a crime in public from public spaces. If you have a 'fancy car' can you not park it somewhere safer?

[Tony B2]

Dylano said:

Surely if he had any criminal intent he could film the cars or number plates in a much more discreet manner?

If is a street full of expensive prestige cars my guess is he was just filming/facetiming them for innocent reasons.

Yes, I would agree, except…

1. He appeared particularly interested in getting number plates into shot
2. Not all of the cars are expensive/prestige - he covered every car, from 10+ year old Minis, to new Teslas, via Porsches and M cars.
3. Walking along the middle of the road most of the time, apart from getting close to my neighbours 911, which was partially obscured by his wife’s Mini
4. He knew I had seen him, and although only 30 - 50 yards away, he did not say anything apart from a dismissive “Hi” and walking away.

If he was just interested in nice cars, and knew that he had been seen filming them, why not just say something like “Nice car, mate, I hope you don’t mind….etc etc”?

There have been a few car/catalytic converter thefts or attempted thefts in the last year or so.

But my bet is on cloning…I hope.

[Tony B2]

Cockaigne said:

unfortunately filming is not a crime in public from public spaces. If you have a 'fancy car' can you not park it somewhere safer?

If I could, I would, but unfortunately I cannot.

It is one of the reasons I am looking to sell (the house) and move elsewhere.

[Unreal]

Tony B2 said:

Unreal said:

Tony B2 said:

I happened to look outside my house, to the street, earlier this evening and saw a guy, phone in hand, pointing it at my cars, whilst talking to someone on his phone.
I immediately went outside to challenge him as he walked away in the middle of the road, having also pointed his phone at the next door neighbours cars too.
He was about 50 yards away, still walking away, he heard me, turned around momentarily, gave me a cheery wave and “Hi” and carried on.
Every car he passed, he appeared to video.
There were some expensive cars, including my own.

So what is the scam here?
Picking suitable vehicles for subsequent stealing, or capturing number plates for cloning?

Has anyone else come across such behaviour before attempted thefts?

I took some pictures of him, and he is visible on some neighbours security cameras.

You should have brandished your machete.

And how long is your drive?

Lol.
I don’t have a machete.
But I do have a dog….:-)

Unfortunately my drive is not long enough to accommodate the vehicles belonging to me and my wife.

Seriously, there are quite a few weird but harmless people about. It's mystifying to me why people post random car and other crap on Insta but millions seem to do it. I took one of my cars for an MOT recently and the yester told me he had posted a picture of it on his Insta account. The fact that he told me suggests he thought it was acceptable and that I would understand.

[Tony B2]

Unreal said:

Seriously, there are quite a few weird but harmless people about. It's mystifying to me why people post random car and other crap on Insta but millions seem to do it. I took one of my cars for an MOT recently and the yester told me he had posted a picture of it on his Insta account. The fact that he told me suggests he thought it was acceptable and that I would understand.

Agreed.

There is an obsession with posting stuff seemingly to impress followers.
I don’t mind people taking pictures, but ask first if you are going to share them on-line. It’s just good manners IMO.

Plate cloning is a problem, even if the original poster is not an active participant.

This will probably grow significantly thanks to Sadiq Kant.

[spoodler]

Tony B2 said:

Unreal said:

Seriously, there are quite a few weird but harmless people about. It's mystifying to me why people post random car and other crap on Insta but millions seem to do it. I took one of my cars for an MOT recently and the yester told me he had posted a picture of it on his Insta account. The fact that he told me suggests he thought it was acceptable and that I would understand.

Agreed.

There is an obsession with posting stuff seemingly to impress followers.
I don’t mind people taking pictures, but ask first if you are going to share them on-line. It’s just good manners IMO.

Plate cloning is a problem, even if the original poster is not an active participant.

This will probably grow significantly thanks to Sadiq Kant.

There's a forum called Pistonheads which seems to have quite a large following... Folk on there have created whole libraries of cars, "with incorrect badges", "badly parked", "inappropriate stripes", "badly modified", "nicely modified", "for sale" and "not for sale" and all sorts of other unfathomable reasons for being of interest.

[768]

Tony B2 said:

But my bet is on cloning…I hope.

It doesn't make any sense to walk around filming every car going, or any, for cloning plates. It'll just be someone filming.

[8IKERDAVE]

Had something similar last year and it made me very paranoid!

Picked a lad up on CCTV about 6am taking photos of my car then making a call. He ignored all other cars and went on his way which made me think it was a targetted thing. However, nothing happened since this. From a car thieves point of view he might have been saying "I've spotted this car at this address, is anyone after one?" but its only speculation.

[s1962a]

768 said:

Tony B2 said:

But my bet is on cloning…I hope.

It doesn't make any sense to walk around filming every car going, or any, for cloning plates. It'll just be someone filming.

I had this happen outside my house couple of weeks ago where he was taking pics of ours and the neighbours cars, and also sizing up the security of our houses. Still waiting for them to turn up and try and steal one of our cars - hope they don't though we put our keys in a faraday box now. I think the way it works is that the person filming / taking pics is not the one that will actually try and steal your car, and is probably selling this information onto others who might want to give it a go. Thats why they have no issue with being caught on camera, as there will be nothing the police can pin on them.

/tinfoilhat

[Grumps.]

Tony B2 said:

Unreal said:

Seriously, there are quite a few weird but harmless people about. It's mystifying to me why people post random car and other crap on Insta but millions seem to do it. I took one of my cars for an MOT recently and the yester told me he had posted a picture of it on his Insta account. The fact that he told me suggests he thought it was acceptable and that I would understand.

Agreed.

There is an obsession with posting stuff seemingly to impress followers.
I don’t mind people taking pictures, but ask first if you are going to share them on-line. It’s just good manners IMO.

Plate cloning is a problem, even if the original poster is not an active participant.

This will probably grow significantly thanks to Sadiq Kant.

Plate cloning is a problem.

However one of my cars has been sorned for a couple of years and is at the back of my house completely invisible from the road and front door, and yet the plate was cloned a few months ago so could only have happened from someone inside dvla.