My first report was obviously to some form of call centre (it was an 0845 number) but I'd have expected them a) to know what "steal" means and b) to have recorded the facts as reported.
Terry, the problem is 'attempted to steal' tends to be a bit of a general remark, so the police were asking you what you meant by 'steal', in your case the criminal damage description seems to fit as you make no mention of anyone trying to physically remove the van.
If someone smashed a window on your car but left no sign of having been inside the vehicle, you would not be able to be sure beyond reasonable doubt that their aim was to take your car, therefore it would again be classed as criminal damage.
As for the speed of their response, your crime would be rated extremely low in resource management terms as Pologirl said, that coupled with the fact that they receive far more 'jobs' than there are officers to deal with means that you've actually been dealt with quite well.
PP
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From what you say, this would seem to be another example of the failings of call centres in specialised situations.
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From what you say, this would seem to be another example of the failings of call centres in specialised situations.
How exactly do you come to that conclusion Frostbite?
Seems that the call centre did their job fine to me.
PP
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Raised a smile this one - "criminal damage to a wheel clamp"
If the clamp is on your own property then it seems to me to be 'Attempted Theft' of the property.
If someone had lawfully put a wheelcamp on your car and you tried to remove it and damaged it in the process then that is 'Criminal Damage' to a wheel clamp.
Its like a window of your property being broken, is it 'Attempted Burglary' or is it 'Criminal Damage'? Depends on numerous factors.
Ah the pressures of Home Office counting rules, Statistics and Performance Monitoring.
Fullchat
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What the heck is a caravan is that like a camper
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>>What the heck is a caravan is that like a camper
A Trailer.
You know, one of those things you tug behind your car with living space in it for use when you stop. In the States they're frequently long, silver and kind of cylindrical.
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A Trailer. You know, one of those things you tug behind your car with living space in it for use when you stop. In the States they\'re frequently long, silver and kind of cylindrical.
Whereas over here they are frequently at the front of a long queue of traffic.
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Long and silver? ahhhhhhh the Airstream...... Now THAT is a caravan. Ok still cumbersome and irksome to others, but a little *style* at least
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I can just picture the getaway now... the police looking out for a suspicious 20 mile tailback on the A303.
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There is always a tailback (suspicious or otherwise) on the A303
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I take your comment about caravans as t-i-c and of course you're wrong - if they'd got away with it it would have been one *MORE* on the road and not in my driveway!.
No..I am a woman and therefore always right... so...
If they'd stolen it, they would have got halfway down the road, realised what an annoying "vehicle" it was, and set light to it. Therefore one less caravan on the road.
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Set light to it? Why, when they can set up a tarmaccing business from it? Also clothes pegs, pre-owned DVD players, the odd bit of rabbit sir? I\'ve got some lovely pheasant out the back if you don\'t mind the toothmarks from my lurcher. How about a nice gold chain for the lady.....?
There was a v8 Disco that went at Brightwells last week that would be ideal for towing in these circumstances.
Er, Terry; your caravan isn\'t Perriwinkle Blue, is it?
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Only if it had no tax or mot and a dodgy v5.
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ND
No but with a 4" brush and a tin of Dulux....
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Terry
"Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand"
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No..I am a woman and therefore always right... so... If they'd stolen it, they would have got halfway down the road, realised what an annoying "vehicle" it was, and set light to it. Therefore one less caravan on the road.
Pologirl, I had to laugh at that!
With all due respect to their owners, caravans ARE the most annoying and pointless things on the roads! What's the point of towing a tiny piece of living space halfway across the country, using all that extra fuel, spending all that extra money....when you could just book a room in a hotel and it would be so much nicer?
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Your majesty
Covered ad nauseum before. Like many things, it's either your cup of tea or it isn't. My take is at
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=14699&...e
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Terry
"Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand"
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Without turning this into another caravan debate, I really have no issues with them. (And no, I don't own one!)
It's the drivers that annoy me - would it really kill them to pull over every few miles while traversing a B-road and let the line of cars past? Some drivers are considerate, some aren't. They're the problem, not the caravan. ;)
No offence intended, of course.
Speaking of criminal damage to wheel clamps, I have to admit I'm guilt, m'lud. A cowboy clamper clamped me in a quiet side street with no signs within 5 minutes of getting there. It's why I carry bolt cutters in the back of the car... and also an iron tyre lever - some of these people are awfully rough.
Fortunately, when I got back to the car there was no one around so I could work in peace. [Note: Do not attempt this on a council owned wheel clamp - they get rather ratty.]
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Isn't there something in the Highway Code about vehicles have to pull-over if they are the cause of a tailback of more than 5 vehicles? Or is that just wishful thinking?
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...or does that just apply to heavy plant, tractors, etc.?
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RULE 145
Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass
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just 'cos I know what I'm saying doesn't mean I know what I'm talking about
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Friend of mine couldn't believe how cheap it was to book a place on a ferry for a caravan.
He didn't agree with me when I suspected they were hoping to fill it up before sinking it mid channel!!!!
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This thread seems to have deteriorated into the usual anti-caravan rant (yawn).
Please feel free to delete it.
Please?
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Terry
"Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand"
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It's pathetic. Or rather the people whinging on about caravans are. I don't own one but frequently see them on the roads. They go no slower than a lorry and if they do there's normally some old codger in front of them which they can't overtake, just like a lorry.
Why pick on them? It's a club together mentality. Go into France, Germany or Holland and they don't do this spiteful schoolboyish bullying against an innocent pastime.
If your life is that affected because you can't go 65mph on a single carriage road and end up at 52mph because you're behind a caravan,or lorry,then you should really look at yourself. You are silent road ragers.
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Good one Stonk.
I don't tow a 'van in the UK - mine is stored in France - but I was very often held up by vehicles that dawdled along, and thus held up miles of traffic behind. The same would happen on motorways, where people seemed to object to being overtaken by a caravanner. They would then overtake and deliberately slow down to less than 45 mph.
The other problem on single carriageways was those who refused to overtake, even when I slowed down and signalled with my left indicator. The majority of drivers welcomed this and would toot their horn and wave as they passed.
Interestingly, I've never experienced problems when towing in France. Drivers seem to accept caravans more readily and act accordingly.
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