Thumper Club Forum

Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: guest1247 on October 11, 2015, 01:01:44 PM

Title: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: guest1247 on October 11, 2015, 01:01:44 PM
Hello all, It was 7-20 am,this Tuesday,  and I had just risen, put the kettle on, and opened the curtains......... Then, the sight of an empty space where my little pride and joy lived...... was empty...... The sickening, gut-wrenching feeling in the pit of your stomach feels very much like the loss of a loved one. All that remained was the cover. I dashed to unlock the front door, and found that the padlock on the front gates had been the victim of the brute force from a pair of bolt-cutters. Since then that sick feeling has turned to anger, despair, and impotence at not having anywhere to channel your feelings. It is a sad fact of these "modern times" , that dialling 999 will get you a rather disdainful response, informing you that your call is most definitely "not an emergency"  ..... and you should dial 101...... It is at this point you experience the first little dose of anger... You get a recorded message asking you to "Leave a Message" ....!!!!  The third attempt to speak with the police ( PCSO's actually ), had me leaving a message.    I'm calm now.... and all week I have been looking in places that the local low-life are known to stash stolen bikes, before and after they have ridden them ragged.  Just in case it is still intact and may even be put up for sale somewhere....May I post these details .... You never know, someone on here might just come across it somewhere.  It is a Honda CL400 ( Japanese model )... Gold tank, black side panels.... twin exhausts... spoked wheels... Chrome rims... Chrome rear rack... and Chrome mudguards, front and rear. Reg No. S710 BBV ... Year 1998... Frame No. NC38-1001671 ... Engine No. NC38E-1001684 ... I think they do not yet realise just how rare ( ie, hard to sell on ), this bike is..... and if and when they do.... it will be dumped... But, until then, I would love to think that on or two of you will keep your eyes open for me. Regards , Tony Calleyne

[deleted to save space]
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: iansoady on October 11, 2015, 01:21:57 PM
Really sorry to hear that Tony, I've experienced several thefts in my time and it never gets any easier.

As you say, probably not a bike that will have a ready market so with a bit of luck it may turn up relatively unscathed, although it does sound as though they knew it was there and maybe targeted it specifically. Of course will keep an eye out but it's probably unlikely to travel far.

The first bike I had stolen was a 1949 Norton Model 18 that I used to leave unlocked in the fond hope that no-one would be able to start it. Of course I was wrong and it later turned up with all the easily removeable bits gone and with the barrel fins all smashed off with a lump hammer or similar.

Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: Smithy on October 11, 2015, 02:49:41 PM
Sorry to hear about your theft, I have had several bikes stolen and some of them have been my most loved. If you haven't had a bike stolen before let me give you a little note of caution. Sometimes it is better to never see a bike again than to have it recovered and see what some brain-dead moron has done to it. I couldn't believe the butchery inflicted on my 800 BMW by some thick toerag just to try to get it started.

I hope your story has a happy end sir.

Ian
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: steveD on October 11, 2015, 03:49:19 PM
Sorry to hear that Tony. Don't expect any sympathy from the cops, in their big picture it just doesn't warrent any time and effort to trace.
Remember my first Tenere that got nicked, now that was just as distinctive as your bike, both quite unique and 'quirky'. That bike had also been stolen by cutting through high quality chains, no attempt at the locks.
Rest assured that you have been targetted and that little bike is now on a container out of the country. As you have mentioned the parts for such a bike will be red hot and will not fit other bikes. The thieves will know that you will be checking well known websites for spare parts so will not even try. The cops just don't understand how big a problem this is and port authorities don't check cargo going out of the country as much as that entering. As another has said IF it has been taken by local scumbags then you probably don't want to see it again.
I can understand your frustration and cannot help in your coming to terms with your loss, but just go through the hoops of getting your insurance sorted and move on.
A bloody big shame, but keep smiling .

Cheers Steve
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: SteveC#222 on October 11, 2015, 05:43:26 PM
Sorry to hear that Tony. It may be worth sending an Email to Classic bike/ Classic Jap magazine editors as it's not a bike that will be easy to move on. >:(
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: timbo on October 11, 2015, 07:47:07 PM
Absolutely disgusted to hear about this theft Tony. the best I can offer is to keep an eye online  >:(
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: tigcraft on October 11, 2015, 08:01:24 PM
I'm sorry to hear and will keep my eyes open.
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: guest1247 on October 11, 2015, 08:39:04 PM
Gentlemen,   Thank you all very much for your thoughts and concerns. These prompt replies, while not changing the situation, have made things somewhat easier to bear....... The low-life thieving scum of this world will always be outnumbered and overcome by the calibre of person I have had the pleasure of meeting on these pages, and indeed, gatherings. My heart-felt thanks....... Tony Calleyne
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: Richard on October 11, 2015, 08:56:24 PM
"Don't expect any sympathy from the cops, in their big picture it just doesn't warrent any time and effort to trace."

Really ?

The biker will have had its registration, frame and engine numbers marked on the Vehicle Database of the PNC.  Unfortunately the Number Plate is easy to change otherwise it would light up any ANPR camera it went past.

I don't know what part of the country you live in but I promise that in my neck of the woods it would most certainly warrant both time and effort.

I hope very much that you find it wish a minimum of damage.  Certainly its worth spreading the word via any media you have access to.  Having your bike stolen really hurts.

Richard
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: themoudie on October 11, 2015, 10:45:06 PM
Aye Tony,

Sorry to read of your loss, will circulate details up here, just in case it comes North!

Fortunately, not lost anything, but friend has; it came back out of the canal (cut)! :'( And the insurance were truculent about paying any money out.  >:(

Like others on the forum, would like to see it reappear but wouldn't hold my breath.

My commiserations and good health to you, Bill
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: Oldtimer on October 12, 2015, 12:29:22 AM
I had an A10 stolen once and can remember that gut wrenching feeling. The police found the bike the next day with the culprit on it.  The police informed me where it was and went to pick it up and I cried at the sight of it. He had painted, no daubed the bike with PINK with dulux paint all over it and was still wet. I asked the police if I could claim compo from the thief and they replied "I don't think so he is a hardend criminal and was caught nicking bikes before" His sentence was a six month suspended jail with not even a fine! He was caught doing the same again four months later and sent down for 6 months. Give me a little bit of a smile.
You don't mention what area you live in.
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: Moto63 on October 12, 2015, 07:29:34 AM
Morning tony, sorry to hear about the theft of your bike mate, will certainly keep my eyes/ears peeled in case it shud turn up anywhere in my local vicinity. (Lancashire) all the best with finding it and hopefully getting the low life's that stole it "sorted" out.  Regards Michael
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: manxie on October 12, 2015, 10:28:57 AM
What a nightmare, sorry to hear this Tony. Maybe worth putting a "wanted" ad in your local shops, newspaper etc for a little Honda, see if you are offered one?? Dunno?? Hope you get it back, good luck, Steve.  >:(
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: guest1247 on October 12, 2015, 01:48:40 PM
FOUND & RECOVERED ....!!! Would you believe it..! I got the call from the police at 9-30 am today. It is now back at home. I have just recovered it. I will post details of it's condition this evening, for now, I am off to buy a BIG Abus lock before the shop shuts ..!! Tony
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: Moto63 on October 12, 2015, 02:39:04 PM
Excellent news mate, everybody loves a happy ending eh. Hopefully not to much damage done? (To you or the bike).  Cheers Michael
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: SteveC#222 on October 12, 2015, 02:40:44 PM
Excellent news Tony!!

(http://media0.giphy.com/media/MOWPkhRAUbR7i/giphy.gif)

Hope the scumbags haven't done too much damage.
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: iansoady on October 12, 2015, 03:28:09 PM
Fantastic, hope there's not too much damage.

Good to hear the cops turned up trumps.
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: Smithy on October 12, 2015, 04:41:37 PM
Terrific news. Hopefully they didn't have it long enough to do any real damage. Buy a lock but don't let it make you paranoid, that's another way that you lose out when a theft occurs. Still enjoy your bike and don't be afraid to take it out and enjoy it even if it means locking it to something solid when you stop for a break (I'd recommend a Rottweiller).
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: guest1247 on October 12, 2015, 06:17:04 PM
Ok, As promised, the details of the recovery..... The bike was reported stolen first thing Tuesday morning. On numerous occasions I was out pedalling my way around the area that the local low-life were known to favour..... either in order to "stash" their booty, then wait for the heat to die down, or to dump bikes after riding them ragged. Apparently, the bike was found amongst trees and undergrowth at the side of an engineering firm only a mile and a half from where I live........ But, I am certain, this would be only a few hundred yards from where the scumbags live. ( A nice easy, short, hop of 100 yards down the A6, then into a local, major industrial estate with no prying neighbours or "twitching curtains". Then a saunter home in a little over 5 minutes. It was seen from the office window, in the undergrowth, on Saturday morning. Then taken into their premises for safe keeping. ( They told me it was obvious no rightful owner would dump such a little gem ). Then, the police were notified first thing Monday morning. I dashed down there within minutes of the call, ( with proof of ID etc etc ), Fearing the worst...... It had been hot-wired, the speedo has been wrenched of it's bracket to gain access to "chop" their way into the wiring loom...... The hand-guards have done their job...!!! they have taken a lot of knocks, from what I can only think are trees, fences and wheelie-bins...!! ... But they have saved the levers....Hand-guards trashed, but levers perfectly straight...Unfortunately, the gorgeous gold paint-job on the tank bears the scratches of serious mis-use, not scratched deliberately, or dented, or indeed "keyed" as in vandalism, just bad enough to need re-painting. Everything else appears straight, filthy, but straight. The insurance assessor will be casting his eye over it on Thursday. I fear that pursuing a claim, ( and having a voluntary excess of £150 ), will have me wanting to say, "Forget me claiming, and losing my 9 years NCD, I may as well bite the bullet and stand all this myself"...... Regarding the nice people who took the bike into their premises on Saturday, I wanted to stuff a note of the realm into their hands so they could have a few beers on me...... The boss wouldn't hear of it ..!! He said a donation to a local hospice would make him happy..... So I went back later..... with a case of Budweiser for his lads, and a receipt for a cash donation to Saint Catherine's Hospice in Bamber Bridge... ( a fine cause ). And finally, I have just received a call from the police. They have told me that the stolen "marker" on this registration No. has been lifted...... Apparently, one or two of the "scrotes", like to fly past the local speed cameras before dumping stolen bikes..... Bast;;ds aren't they...!!!   Once again gentlemen, thanks for all of your concern and kind words. Tony
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: steveD on October 12, 2015, 07:56:12 PM
That's fantastic news Tony,............................but remember, the lock is not your friend!

These animals don't go for the locks, just crop through the chain, as you well know.

Looks like you are going to have to revise your security.

Hope the remedial work is not too expensive.
Keep us informed.

Cheers Steve

PS How about a mini- meet at the 'bunkhouse' sometime before the end of the year?
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: guest1247 on October 12, 2015, 09:24:25 PM
Thanks Steve.... Yes, the idea of a "mini-meet" sounds ok. It would have to be in the bunk-house this time of year. ( I am getting delicate as I get older..!! ).  Just promise to leave your sat-nav at home..!!    Tony..
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: steveD on October 12, 2015, 09:38:11 PM
Thanks Steve.... Yes, the idea of a "mini-meet" sounds ok. It would have to be in the bunk-house this time of year. ( I am getting delicate as I get older..!! ).  Just promise to leave your sat-nav at home..!!    Tony..


Ha Ha Ha Ha  :o
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: Oldtimer on October 12, 2015, 10:55:37 PM
Fantastic!!!!! you must be so relieved. Well a pat on the back for the old bill I suppose. An electrified fence perhaps or some sort of an alarm system wouldn't go amiss.
Anyhow glad to hear you are reunited with your bike.
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: timbo on October 13, 2015, 08:47:24 AM
Great news Tony. Chuffed to here you got the wee bike back  :)
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: tommy on October 13, 2015, 12:41:40 PM
that's fantastic news tony that you got it back ,great stuff tommy
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: Dave#22 on October 14, 2015, 04:11:10 PM
Hi Tony, I've only just spotted your message, bad news....too busy doing other things....I'm glad you've got your bike back and hope it gets restored to it's former glory....lovely little bike.
Dave.
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: themoudie on October 15, 2015, 09:15:31 PM
Aye Tony,

Very pleased to read the wee beastie has been found and returned.  :) Shame about the damage, but not beyond repair and as usual the insurance is of no practical relevance!  :(

Good to know common decency is still alive and kicking in the engineering business owner and his employees.

Good health, Bill
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: guest1247 on October 16, 2015, 09:56:18 AM
Thanks Bill, The insurance assessor viewed the damage yesterday, ( Thursday ), and recorded the damage. After a great deal of thought ...... and consideration about what the consequences of a claim will do to my premium next year.... You've guessed it... I am going to stand this loss myself...... The ramifications of just one claim could impact on me next year. Not just when I renew this particular bike's insurance.... but when I shop-around and want to find a new (cheaper) company for the new Guzzi ..... or the car.... or the house..... They all ask "Have you made a claim on ANY insurance policy in the last 5 years Sir ?" Unfortunately this is one battle that the bas#%&ds have won..... A further note.... Has anybody here noticed what the VERY FIRST action an insurance assessor takes..? It is the same action I have witnessed at the scene of a road accident where a pedestrian was sadly knocked over........ A tyre tread-depth gauge is taken from a very convenient pocket, and ALL the tyres are checked for tread depth..... The cynical side of me keeps saying ..... Where blame can be apportioned, or any flimsy excuse to remove responsibility for a claim ..... You get where I am going.     Last note, Would it be of interest to anybody if I started a new topic, detailing the process of getting her back to her former glory  ...?   Bye, Tony
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: Moto63 on October 16, 2015, 11:32:59 AM
Latest thecno oligy is that they are now (yes now) installing automatic/digital tyre tread depth gauges into road surfaces, mainly motorways to start with. You drive over it, it detects you,ve not got the legal depth tread and bam, takes a photo of your car/number plate then they "do you" ace eh
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: Richard on October 16, 2015, 08:09:57 PM
Excellent.. So chuffed to see the Police found it. Just hope its okay.
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: themoudie on October 16, 2015, 11:06:46 PM
Aye Tony,

'Project Progress' if your up for it?

My regards, Bill
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: johnr on October 19, 2015, 09:36:14 PM
heavy cable locks are useful because theyre pretty hard to cut with bolt cutters, when we lived in ribbleton in preston our cable lock saved the bikes a few times because the bolt croppers that the scroats used would just crush the cables rather than cutting them. you would think a cable isnt as strong as a chain, but the reality in the harsh light of day is that regardless of actual strength, a heavy cable is more able to resist the actions of a bolt cutter..
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: guest1247 on October 20, 2015, 09:10:40 PM
Thank you for that thought John. I did in fact go down that route to secure another bike I have..... and I  totally agree with your view of cables. Do you still live in the Preston area ? I sometimes travel home from Longridge Rd to Bamber Bridge via Ribbleton..... Regards, Tony
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: johnr on October 21, 2015, 04:48:40 PM
no, we actually moved because of the scumbags. ive got a lot of bikes and it was a relentless battle over 20 years with generation after generation of scumbags. as one lot moved away or got sent down, new youngsters would try their hands. i had alarms, cctv, locks, cables, chains, gates, spikes, barbed wire, dogs, you name it, i tried it, but at one stage it was almost every single night that someone was trying the security, probing for weakness, and it was easy for them as they could sleep all day, but as i worked, it was getting harder and harder to keep stuff secure without living under permanent seige. plod were utterly useless, disinterested if something happened, crime numbers etc are just a way to fob you off. they genuinely dont care, and i was once told to my face by a policeman that if i wanted peace and quiet, i should move, because so far as lancs constabulary were concerned, if the residents of the towns estates were robbing from each other, it meant that they were tied up and so wouldnt be robbing from folks who lived elsewhere. and that was all i got, he said that when they crack down on crime on the estates, the tossers go elsewhere and it makes plods life harder because the more well to do people complain more louder and higher up the chain of command than us worthless plebs, so they contain crime on the estates and try to keep it there. so we packed our bags and havent looked back.
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: tommy on October 21, 2015, 07:43:20 PM
bloody hell john that was feckin terrible to live ,little scumbags are everywhere ,here in dublin there are little ba...rds walking around with over 100 convictions  ,doing nothing all day except stroking and smoking , crap
have ya still got some kats tommy
Title: Re: Please keep a look out for my little "pride and Joy" please
Post by: johnr on October 24, 2015, 11:52:18 AM
oh aye, ive still got all my kats. even thought they were sniffing round all the time, i was always a step ahead of them, so in almost 20 years, they only got away with one bike, and that was right at the beginning before i learned my lessons on security! they were always more interested in off roaders, peds and step thrus, so i would chain the bikes up, then chain them together with a seperate lock, then chain the loops together and through an iron anchor i built into the wall, these were behind a 7 foot gate, tripple locked, hinges secured (the oldest trick in the book that folks miss with big gates is that you can lift the hinges off no matter how many locks you fit at the other end) the gate had spikes on top, at the side the car port had panels down to below the level of the fence panels, the fence panels were screwed in place, and also were alarmed so they wouldnt be able to lift the panels out unnoticed, the whole lot was lit from the centre facing out by 2 500w floodlights on passive infra red detectors. the garage was even more secure with alarms, iron gates over the wooden doors, more locks, bolts, security lights etc, and yet they continually tried it on. however, im strangely grateful. it taught me a lot about security and how easy it is to make things very tricky for the casual tealeaf. the principle thing to remember is that securing a bike is a war of attrition. the local scallys have all the time in the world, and thats their world, not yours. their world starts at dusk and allows them to sleep in the day whilst you are working. remember that above all else, darkness is their friend, so once youve locked it up, protect it by lighting up anything that moves near it. cctv is only any good to identify them if you fail and they get it. and if they know you have cctv, they will mask up anyhow.