"POLICE Follow this van"

[UncleRic]

Normally found on the back of security vans and the like..

SIGNS said:

POLICE Follow this van

So, is the sign asking the Police to follow the van, or is it stating that the Police 'follow' (monitor the movements of) the van?
I've also seem some that say something like "POLICE, if this van is on the road between 11pm & 8am please stop." Presumably these could just be covered over by any ne'er do well looking to steal the van?



I only ask because I'm planning a daring gold heist involving three small cars and a coach and need to work through a few snags.

[anonymous-user]

UncleRic said:

So, is the sign asking the Police to follow the van, or is it stating that the Police 'follow' (monitor the movements of) the van?
I've also seem some that say something like "POLICE, if this van is on the road between 11pm & 8am please stop." Presumably these could just be covered over by any ne'er do well looking to steal the van?



I only ask because I'm planning a daring gold heist involving three small cars and a coach and need to work through a few snags.

I never understood these signs too, and wait with bated breath for an answer...

Edited by black pipebandit on Tuesday 1st March 08:13

[Carrot]

Like the "midnight plus" stickers as well...

I know the majority of the cars that host these cars are undesirable to thieves or perhaps joyriders, but surely if you were going to nick the car, you would remove / obscure the sticker?

[Tuvra]

I thought this was going to be a post about High sided Ford Transits driven by Pikeys.

[JonyTVR]

It means follow to the nearest police station rather than pull over on the street if there is a problem

[NoNeed]

Tuvra said:

I thought this was going to be a post about High sided Ford Transits driven by Pikeys.

It would be nice to get hold of some stickers and put them on the back of pikey vans though

[WeirdNeville]

I ended up behind one of those once. I wouldn't have minded, but it turned out it was making a delivery to Inchnadamph. And I was in my own car.

Turns out I have a suggestible personality.

[UncleRic]

JonyTVR said:

It means follow to the nearest police station rather than pull over on the street if there is a problem

Eh? So the Police give 'em the Blues and then follow the van to the nearest Police station? What if the van 'has' been stolen and the crooks lead the Police on a merry chase to somewhere less desireable.. full of other crooks.. with guns and big dogs?

Edited by UncleRic on Tuesday 1st March 08:32

[Liquid Knight]

Why do you want to know? Planning something?

Some CIT vans are fitted with tracking devices so if an alarm is set off they're easier to find. That's about it.

[paranoid airbag]

I always thought it was an attempt at deterrent. If it is it's pretty poor, the vans I've seen with it obviously never have actual police following, so merely serve to tell you there's something worth stealing in there

[guru_1071]

UncleRic said:

I only ask because I'm planning a daring gold heist involving three small cars and a coach and need to work through a few snags.

i can hire you a coach.....(and the cars, come to think of it....)

[Elroy Blue]

JonyTVR said:

It means follow to the nearest police station rather than pull over on the street if there is a problem

No it doesn't. It is a 'request' from the security operator for any uncommitted patrol car to follow the van for as long as possible as a deterrent.

[lordlee]

It makes a change from such classics as:

"I was my wife was a dirty as this"
"Cleaned by the NHS"
"This isn't just dirt, this is M&S organic dirt"

[UncleRic]

guru_1071 said:

i can hire you a coach.....(and the cars, come to think of it....)

Any good with explosives too?

[marshalla]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Baryonyx]

Elroy Blue said:

No it doesn't. It is a 'request' from the security operator for any uncommitted patrol car to follow the van for as long as possible as a deterrent.

And of course, some forces also run operations where uncommitted patrol cars are asked to make a point of following unaccompanied cash in transit vehicles.

[Zip106]

O/T, but about signage - crossing over a level crossing there's usually a sign similar to 'If a long vehicle, park here and use 'phone'.

These signs are AFTER the crossing facing you on the left - why would you need to 'phone (phone who?) if you've already crossed?

[Mastodon2]

Elroy Blue said:

No it doesn't. It is a 'request' from the security operator for any uncommitted patrol car to follow the van for as long as possible as a deterrent.

I would have thought that would have put the willys up the van drivers, making them think crooks are following planning to rob them. "Black vectra following...police or armed council estate robbers?" olol.

[shovelheadrob]

It's probably as much a deterrent as a "NO TOOLS ARE LEFT IN THIS VEHICLE OVERNIGHT" sticker which only works if you assume the scumbags can read, a chap I know has some magnetic signs with something like ACME FUNERAL DIRECTORS he puts on the side of his van when he has to leave it anywhere he is concerned about, it's never been touched!

[vit4]

shovelheadrob said:

It's probably as much a deterrent as a "NO TOOLS ARE LEFT IN THIS VEHICLE OVERNIGHT" sticker which only works if you assume the scumbags can read, a chap I know has some magnetic signs with something like ACME FUNERAL DIRECTORS he puts on the side of his van when he has to leave it anywhere he is concerned about, it's never been touched!

Not a bad idea that actually

Neighbour had their van nicked a couple of days ago