Discussion
Scrotes tried to break into my shed in the early hours of Friday morning. Only noticed on Saturday evening when I went out to the shed and noticed the lock was mangled. Luckily, they were utterly incompetent and were defeated by a security bolt. They removed the screws and tried to lever the security bolt out ... with a screwdriver - found the snapped blade nearby. If they had a pry bar, or even targeted the staple which did not have a security bolt, they'd have been in no trouble. Got a grand or two worth of tools and kit in there (though, again, incompetent scrotes didn't appear to have a vehicle with them so could only have taken a few things).
Got them on CCTV, one guy masked up, other guy covered face with hand, but masked up guy just had a medical mask on so still fairly easy to identify. Stills on the local Facebook page, had the same name from two different people within the hour, now getting investigated by the local burglary team. Apparently the individual is well known to the local force and they are reasonably confident it was him. Hopefully they actually pin it to him and he gets some sort of punishment ...
My two questions:
1) If they pin it on him, will he be likely to get a custodial sentence? Him and his mate did come tooled up (had a hammer in video, plus screwdriver), clearly not a first offence; but obviously didn't actually take anything (other than a couple of cans of coke from outside my back door, b
ds!)
2) I've resecured the shed, beefed up the fixings etc, some new high security hasps/staples - but a) does better security just advertise you have something worth stealing and b) surely a determined scrote will get in regardless, the weak point presumably being the slighly tired tatty wooden shed rather than the lock? I really don't want to have to store all my tools, trolley jack, etc inside the house ...
Got them on CCTV, one guy masked up, other guy covered face with hand, but masked up guy just had a medical mask on so still fairly easy to identify. Stills on the local Facebook page, had the same name from two different people within the hour, now getting investigated by the local burglary team. Apparently the individual is well known to the local force and they are reasonably confident it was him. Hopefully they actually pin it to him and he gets some sort of punishment ...
My two questions:
1) If they pin it on him, will he be likely to get a custodial sentence? Him and his mate did come tooled up (had a hammer in video, plus screwdriver), clearly not a first offence; but obviously didn't actually take anything (other than a couple of cans of coke from outside my back door, b
ds!)2) I've resecured the shed, beefed up the fixings etc, some new high security hasps/staples - but a) does better security just advertise you have something worth stealing and b) surely a determined scrote will get in regardless, the weak point presumably being the slighly tired tatty wooden shed rather than the lock? I really don't want to have to store all my tools, trolley jack, etc inside the house ...
Aretnap said:
PrinceRupert said:
1) If they pin it on him, will he be likely to get a custodial sentence? Him and his mate did come tooled up (had a hammer in video, plus screwdriver), clearly not a first offence; but obviously didn't actually take anything (other than a couple of cans of coke from outside my back door, bds!)
The sentencing guidelines for burglary are hereds!)https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/up...
A shed counts as part of your home so this comes under "domestic burglary" section.
Looks like category 2 (lesser harm and higher culpability) to me: The starting is 1 year's custody but the sentence can range from a high level community order to 2 years custody.
In practice I suspect it would be at the lower end of the range due to the fact that it was a shed rather than your actual house that they (nearly) broke into, the fact that they were only barely "equipped for burglary" and it sounds like "a significant degree of planning or organisation" would be pushing it, and also the fact that it was an attempted burglary rather than a successful one (two cans of Coke notwithstanding).
skyline501 said:
https://www.ant-supplies.uk/bits-and-bobs/blank-fi...
The scrotes will soil themselves with the added bonus of leaving dna behind.
You mean I'll sThe scrotes will soil themselves with the added bonus of leaving dna behind.
t myself in my own shed as I trip it when hungover on a Sunday morning 
Or it will be tripped by a fox every second night if outside Edited by PrinceRupert on Monday 1st March 09:50
Dog Star said:
A500leroy said:
id be keeping your most valuable tools under the stairs.
I don't keep anything that is portable and resellable in a shed - just wood, a very heavy old pillar drill, boxes of screws... there's a lot in there but my rule is to only store stuff that I think a thief just wouldn't be arsed with, or if it did get taken then I wouldn't miss.They're made of wood and I personally believe they're totally insecure - the OPs burglars must have been totally inept. It always surprises me that insurers cover the contents, and don't even get me started on people keeping expensive cycles in them.
I'm with A500leroy on this one - keep your decent gear in a secure garage or in the house.
(Before anyone says it (typical PH response) - no I don't live in a s
t area, where I live is lovely, but I am absolutely mental on home security.In good news, because I managed to identify a suspect through the facebook page, it is being progressed by a burglary detective rather than a uniformed officer; they have taken the footage, came round and collected the snapped screw driver blade, and are taking a witness statement. Sounds like the bloke will get lifted but let's hope he gets a bit of punishment rather than a slap on the wrist. Don't want him coming back for revenge ...
RazerSauber said:
My shed currently only has a hole in the roof, a bunch of empty cabinets and old crusty tools in. If a burglar was to break in there then they'd probably be eaten by the seriously frightening number of spiders in there and if they managed to escape then they'd make off with tools that you'd think came from the Titanic. For all of you wondering, the shed is due to be ripped down this year!
I wonder if they broke in because I have an old project car under a cover on the drive, therefore assumption that shed has tools in it. On the other hand, not sure they are that bright ...Plymo said:
Yep, security only works on opportunists but they are the main kind of thief really - just after their next dose of heroin.
One thing that security does little to stop though is vandalism, I hate it. I can understand (though don't agree with!) theft of various kinds, but vandalism is something that security doesn't really touch.
I'm lucky that so far I've only had about £20 of tools and a £50 pushbike nicked, but I've suffered over £1000 worth of vandalism (plus the cost and hassle of prevention) and the people doing it have literally nothing to gain from it
I've got my TVR Tuscan arriving this weekend and my biggest concern is the scrote tries to burgle my shed and on the way back down my drive scrapes the claw hammer down the Tuscan just to be a dick ... One thing that security does little to stop though is vandalism, I hate it. I can understand (though don't agree with!) theft of various kinds, but vandalism is something that security doesn't really touch.
I'm lucky that so far I've only had about £20 of tools and a £50 pushbike nicked, but I've suffered over £1000 worth of vandalism (plus the cost and hassle of prevention) and the people doing it have literally nothing to gain from it
Lonely said:
PrinceRupert said:
So, some good news - the suspect will be getting lifted this week. Police reasonably confident in their case as well. Hopefully gets an appropriate punishment.
Please don't build your hopes up. As much as we'd all like to see a suitable chastisement it's unlikely to be any more than a community order unless there are other matters to be dealt with at the same time.Edited by PrinceRupert on Monday 1st March 13:50
Been asked if I'd be happy to be a witness in court. Sure, but not sure what value I can add, other than confirming i watched the security footage ...
RazerSauber said:
Blockbuster said:
Lonely said:
Please don't build your hopes up. As much as we'd all like to see a suitable chastisement it's unlikely to be any more than a community order unless there are other matters to be dealt with at the same time.
One of the local prolific offenders who has over 180 previous convictions recently got sentenced to a 7pm to 7am curfew for four months, after his latest house breaking escapade.https://www.burglary.co.uk/law/3rd-strike-burglar-...
Lonely said:
Dwelling burglary carries it. Not sheds I'm afraid.
I am clearly no expert but this website suggests a shed is a dwelling: https://www.adamlawsolicitors.co.uk/criminal-defen...
"The question of what constituted a dwelling under section 9 of the Theft Act 1968 was specifically considered by the Court of Appeal in the case of R v Rodmell (24 November 1994 – unreported). This was a case that involved the burglary of a garden shed, and the theft of power tools. The shed stood in three and a quarter acres of grounds of a house, and some 60 yards from the house.
The Court of Appeal cited with approval the following sentencing remarks:
‘A garden shed is part of a person’s home. Burglars should be under no illusion that burglary of outbuildings is just as much burglary of domestic premises as breaking into the front door, although it can be said to be not quite as serious as breaking onto the place where people live.’"
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