Danger of staying overnight in Motorwy Services (1 Viewer)

Myrddin

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Extract from local newspaper today



Robbers smashed car window and threatened mountain bikers with a knife on M4 Services


Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 14:09
TWO mountain bikers were threatened with a knife in a terrifying robbery at the M4 services.
Police in Swansea are appealing for information following the attack, which happened at the Penllergaer services at junction 47 of the M4.
The two male victims were asleep in their blue Ford Fiesta car at 3.30am when they were awoken by people trying to steal their mountain bikes which were secured to the rear.
Two males who were challenged ran away only to return a short time later and threaten the victims, who locked themselves inside the Fiesta.
The men then smashed the front passenger window and one of them leant in and threatened the victims with a knife and demanded the mountain bikes.
As the victims attempted to drive away the mountain bikes were pulled off the rear off the rear of the vehicle.
Police have arrested three men, aged 22, 24, and 26, along with a 24-year-old woman in connection with this matter, all of whom have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.
Neither bike stolen in the February 13 robbery has so far been recovered.
Bike one is described as being manufactured by "Genesis" with a green frame with and purple pedals
Bike two is described as a "Specialised" make with a black fame and white pedals.
Acting Detective Inspector Keith Morgan said: "This was a very frightening experience for these young men who were only sleeping in their car as they were unable to find any suitable accommodation after they had been mountain bike riding in the area.
"To date we have not recovered these expensive mountain bikes which are quite distinctive. I am appealing to anyone who has information either as to the whereabouts of the bikes or on the robbery to come forward"
 

david price

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I have stopped on motorway services here and abroad and never had trouble.if you feel unsafe then move on.Crime can happen anywhere but dont let it ruin your life.
Personnelly knife or not i would have been out in a shot.I do carry a baseball bat in the motorhome,but only for games when we arrive on site
:winky::
Wink:
Dave
 

Compass57

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I know not everyone has a dog but I know mine would wake me in such a case and would no doubt frighten any would be robbers away.
I have never stopped over night in a motorway services and wouldn’t, I avoid all motorways when possible rather take the scenic route, there’s nothing like parking up in a gateway or a pull in on a B road to be waken up by cows mooing in the adjoining field next morning.

Bip.:thumb:

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Myrddin

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I have stopped on motorway services here and abroad and never had trouble.if you feel unsafe then move on.Crime can happen anywhere but dont let it ruin your life.
Personnelly knife or not i would have been out in a shot.I do carry a baseball bat in the motorhome,but only for games when we arrive on site
:winky::
Wink:
Dave

Hi Dave
The services in question looks safe, clean and modern etc but there has been a number in incidents involving yobs from outside the near proximity since it was opened. Looks safe but is not. It is not always possible to make a quick getaway in the middle of the night when you are in bed or perhaps tyres slashed etc.
 

champers

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Extract from local newspaper today



Robbers smashed car window and threatened mountain bikers with a knife on M4 Services


Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 14:09
TWO mountain bikers were threatened with a knife in a terrifying robbery at the M4 services.

Police in Swansea are appealing for information following the attack, which happened at the Penllergaer services at junction 47 of the M4.

The two male victims were asleep in their blue Ford Fiesta car at 3.30am when they were awoken by people trying to steal their mountain bikes which were secured to the rear.

Two males who were challenged ran away only to return a short time later and threaten the victims, who locked themselves inside the Fiesta.

i dont know about anyone else, but I would have thought that they would have moved on somewhere safer after the first incident ?

perhaps it is just me :Sad:
 

Losos

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i dont know about anyone else, but I would have thought that they would have moved on somewhere safer after the first incident ?

Yep, would have been out of there in a flash, and calling the Police and looking for a patrol car on the M4 (Not that you would se one when you wanted one :RollEyes:)

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Road Runner

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I have a 15 stone Great Dane but we still got robbed on a service area in Spain on the autopista 7.
 

rainbow chasers

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I think with any service area, be it uk or abroad, you do have to rely on judgement. If it doesn't feel right, move on as has been said before. You do also have to pay attention to the area you are in. It it looks a bit iffy, then it probably is, even if the services are nice looking! Sounds very judgemental to think that way, but it is all you have to rely on!

Wherever possible, find somewhere on the outskirts, or off the main motorway. If you really are not sure where and are in the services, ask a lorry driver - they know all the safe spots to stop at!

I know these lads were in a car and probably a little inexperienced at such things - but they were a little silly for staying there after event one - but we live and learn!
 

kennygd

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:Smile:Coincidence that Dave, I also carry a baseball bat for games:winky:
Kennygd

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Peter James

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I suppose they thought they were running away, when they were just going away to get tooled up and come back with the element of surprise. I would been wary of that now, but only because I have known it happen before. When I was their age I would probably have been caught out in the same way.

I don't remember this service area, but looking at its location it looks like one that has been built since Thatcher privatised them all. So instead of being properly built out in the countryside with access from dedicated motorway slip roads like the public owned ones were, its one of those with access from congested local roads where any yobs from local housing estates can walk in and out at will?

I have fitted microswitches to the van door handles, so the alarm goes off when a door handle is pulled, irrespective of whether or not the door is locked, or opened. So the alarm goes off BEFORE the thief has smashed their way in.
 

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