Suspicious Or What (2 Viewers)

[speed080]

today I had m/home parked on road in front of house and a guy knocked on house door to ask if I would be prepared to sell my camper,he had a strong irish accent ,saying it was w what he wanted etc,he said he was from leeds 20 miles away and was touring around looking for vans and wanted mine. when told it was not for sale a car drew up and he left, I got a pic of car and reg. camper now on drive ,immobilised alarmed and blocked in with car ,guess where in sleeping for the next few nights and will inform police in morning . worrying times eh

 

[pappajohn]

You have probably been marked as well.

An innocent looking chalk mark on garden wall or pavement outside your house.

Says "heres one worth stealing" to the follow on gang.

 

[Weinsbergaman]

Good job you were there

Ever thought of storage? Ours is in a Cossoa site Link Removed and we even get a discount on our insurance Don't think I would ever store ours at home

Good luck,

Thanks Antony

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[speed080]

better keep tracker contact number handy

 

[speed080]

yes to storage but just moved house ,it was in storage before we moved

 

[wanderer]

Same thing happened to me about 6 months ago , two Itinerants in a transit pulled up and asked to buy our motorhome i replied (which is a lie) that i couldn,t as it was my home , had no problems so far

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[sdc77]

We keep ours on the drive. It's locked alarmed and tracked but most importantly the keys are secure. It's close alongside a wall with its wheels locked to an angle and covered by cctv that emails me pics of movement on the drive. My main worry is losing the cat to be honest. Hopefully the dogs senses will detect anyone near the van. He's pretty reliable.
Regarding these travellers.. they are only going to mark you out if they see you as an easy touch. A face to face challenge doesn't normal result in you becoming a victim. Good physical security and alertness normally works.

 

[Judge Mental]

That's the trouble with having van out front on view...Out of sight out of mind

 

[jollyrodger]

No yours not for sale but I wouldn't mind betting there could be a clone in the pipeline ,quite common with our traveling friends

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[GWAYGWAY]

Is it a HOBBY? they like those and the caravans as well.

 

[Janine]

I get them quite often around here - I just say 'yes, I'll take £35,000 for it'. (It's worth about £6000)

I had one try to argue that I was asking a ridiculous amount but when I reminded him that he'd started it, he walked off chuntering

 

[tonka]

Wise move.. Keep a watch out...
I had same a few years ago, took number plate, blocked in van and was very wary for a time.

I am aware a lot of people back their vans on their driveways so they can pull out easier. However I pull mine in front first, a little thing but everything to make it harder to take..

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[parknride]

We have used storage and stored at home over many years. Van is tucked in but not hidden i like it close by for its conveniencs. Only problem we ever had was with a caravan in storage, they got past security gates and CCTV and got into a line of vans. They cut the alarm from outside and robbed the insides. They had keys for all of them!

 

[buttons]

I cant see any gain or logic for someone knocking on your door asking if your van is for sale if he wanted to steal it. Where is the logic in that. I'm sure he had cash in his pocket and was chancing his luck at talking owners into selling their vans. Cash is a big persuaded if an owner is a bit short on cash. If you had shown any doubt when he asked if it was for sale then he would have made you an offer. All perfectly legal business practices. You have to be a bit more trusting when strangers knock on your door.

 

[chaser]

I cant see any gain or logic for someone knocking on your door asking if your van is for sale if he wanted to steal it. Where is the logic in that. I'm sure he had cash in his pocket and was chancing his luck at talking owners into selling their vans. Cash is a big persuaded if an owner is a bit short on cash. If you had shown any doubt when he asked if it was for sale then he would have made you an offer. All perfectly legal business practices. You have to be a bit more trusting when strangers knock on your door.

My sentiment exactly, i have often asked people if they want to sell something, don't know if you don't ask

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[Southdowners]

I cant see any gain or logic for someone knocking on your door asking if your van is for sale if he wanted to steal it. Where is the logic in that. I'm sure he had cash in his pocket and was chancing his luck at talking owners into selling their vans. Cash is a big persuaded if an owner is a bit short on cash. If you had shown any doubt when he asked if it was for sale then he would have made you an offer. All perfectly legal business practices. You have to be a bit more trusting when strangers knock on your door.

I agree with the above.

Up until very recently I ran a livery yard and there were always tales circulating of horses being plaited by gypsies in order to go back an steal them. The story went as follows: Someone (usually in a white van) would be seen lurking by the yard. This person would supposedly put a plait in the mane or tail so that others would come later to steal the marked horse. People used to get so upset and loose sleep over it. There was absolutely no logic. Why on earth would any thief alert the owner beforehand? The plaits were nothing more than wind plaits. I expect the same story is still going on today... the infamous lurky white van was seen from John o'Groats to Lands End!

A quick check on the national horse database showed that no horse was ever stolen in this way. In fact very few horses are stolen, the ones that do are those who are often out on loan to someone who then decides to sell them - you're far more likely to have a horse dumped in your paddock.

 

[ivorantony]

In my neck of the woods they usually use the talk about selling your van to have a good look at any security you may have, their eyes are looking about everywhere and if there are two one try's to keep you in conversation while the other sees if there is a security weakness that they can exploit, IMO they are scum of the earth!,

 

[buttons]

In my neck of the woods they usually use the talk about selling your van to have a good look at any security you may have, their eyes are looking about everywhere and if there are two one try's to keep you in conversation while the other sees if there is a security weakness that they can exploit, IMO they are scum of the earth!,

They are just looking around for anything else that they can make you an offer on. I think scum is a bit harsh, you dont even know them, all they did was knock on your door.

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[ivorantony]

They are just looking around for anything else that they can make you an offer on. I think scum is a bit harsh, you dont even know them, all they did was knock on your door.

I speak from my own experience! I have had one caravan and one trailer plus several bikes stolen from me plus being burgled twice in my 44 years here with the last time taking keys and my car to transport my stuff away,
From my experience they are scum of the earth!!! Parasites feeding of the hard working people!!

 

[chaser]

I speak from my own experience! I have had one caravan and one trailer plus several bikes stolen from me plus being burgled twice in my 44 years here with the last time taking keys and my car to transport my stuff away,
From my experience they are scum of the earth!!! Parasites feeding of the hard working people!!

No one disputing that, and there are always people out there to rob you but in this instance , there was no need for the bloke to knock on his door , alerting him to his presence, he could just as easily sat in his motor and got more info than he got by asking , and nicked it later without anyone being the wiser.

 

[Judge Mental]

They tried it on in my road last year. one neighbor stupidly agreed to have new tiled roof fitted ( it would be a kindness to call them cowboys!) What a balls up of a job! they flooded it with labor and done it in 3 days! a 4 bed detached house. it needs complete stripping and doing again properly..I cant begin to explain whats wrong with it. the owner oblivious (ex tax inspector)

Anyway they saw it was a nice upmarket little road and harassed everyone trying to get us to as well. I just said I'm moving soon so no way. everyone one of them that called was dressed smart, shaved and smelling like they just got out of the shower (probably my neighbors) dangerous people.. they just look at us as hosts to feed off

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[Terry]

I used to get it all the time -just trying there luck to see if they can buy it cheaply --now they ask if I can convert there van I'll leave you to guess the answer to both
terry

 

[mogbl]

I had my Bedford Rascal 940cc motor home stolen they never gave me a heads up. It would do 40mph on the flat 60mph down hill or being sucked along by a lorry. It was alarmed and immobilised, it was in a locked compound covered by CCTV. The person caught on CCTV took 22 minutes to by-pass everything. then drove it out of the compound and went back and closed the gates. If you could do all that you would nick something a bit better. If they want it they will nick no matter what.

 

[cruiser]

I have had several of our travelling friends knock on my door. they all want to buy my van. I just tell them how long I have had it. then say thanks but I will keep it. one or two come back quite regularly. but not all them to be trusted. just ask @lugnutt .

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[Trikeman]

'There's nothing too hot or too heavy for a tinker'.

A mantra driven into me by me ole' Dad.

Trikeman.

 

[Minxy]

today I had m/home parked on road in front of house and a guy knocked on house door to ask if I would be prepared to sell my camper,he had a strong irish accent ,saying it was w what he wanted etc,he said he was from leeds 20 miles away and was touring around looking for vans and wanted mine. when told it was not for sale a car drew up and he left, I got a pic of car and reg. camper now on drive ,immobilised alarmed and blocked in with car ,guess where in sleeping for the next few nights and will inform police in morning . worrying times eh

Have you checked to see if the car is taxed ... could possibly cast some light on how 'honest' the chap might have been.

 

[Weinsbergaman]

Have you checked to see if the car is taxed ... could possibly cast some light on how 'honest' the chap might have been.

That wouldn't mean a thing as it's easy to clone a number plate.

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[Minxy]

That wouldn't mean a thing as it's easy to clone a number plate.

... yes, but it should give bit of a clue if the car it's associated with is different!

 

[Weinsbergaman]

... yes, but it should give bit of a clue if the car it's associated with is different!

When these crooks clone a car they make sure it's the same make, model & colour, then how would you tell? They can even get you name & address from the rubbish in your bin. Not hard as I said

Thanks Antony

 

[MichelleRyall]

I cant see any gain or logic for someone knocking on your door asking if your van is for sale if he wanted to steal it. Where is the logic in that. I'm sure he had cash in his pocket and was chancing his luck at talking owners into selling their vans. Cash is a big persuaded if an owner is a bit short on cash. If you had shown any doubt when he asked if it was for sale then he would have made you an offer. All perfectly legal business practices. You have to be a bit more trusting when strangers knock on your door.

Whilst you are probably right on most occasions, I suspect that often they are just casing the place up as they casually ask you questions. Our local school caretaker had the exact thing happen to him. A man of Irish descent asked if he wanted to sell his caravan, which. ironically was around the back of the school and couldn't be seen unless someone had been poking around. He replied..No and that night 2 fence panels were removed along with the wheel clamp and chains, hitched it up......never to be seen again.

We are inundated with "travellers" of all sorts this time of year here in Dorset. Many are honest and hard-working and I also have several friends who are of Romany descent so I am not talking out of my orifice. Currently we have around 3 illegal encampments on public carparks and open spaces. They were all entered illegally. Our local council have kindly supplied skips and toilets whilst they go to court to get orders for them to leave.....this happens every single year just before the Steam Fair and Summer holidays.When they finally leave it costs thousands to clear up the s**t that wasn't put in the skips or toilets.

With this in mind I would be very sceptical if someone knocked on my door and asked if my van was for sale.

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