VRM on the roof?

[Trevor Wbm]

We often get posts about stolen vans and the low chances of recovery. Should your van be stolen, the harsh practicalities are that it is very unlikely that a police officer who has been made aware of the theft and knows the VRM will see it moving with the real VRM displayed and ANPR systems, also reliant on a genuine VRM, won't be updated until it's long gone from the area. In a previous life I had some dealings with what was then our local Police Air Support unit, so have a small insight into what they can do. Their cameras are powerful and most definitely capable of reading number plate sized text, especially if it's facing up towards them.

My van is of an age where I suspect thieves would drive past it to look for a newer one, but I'm going to stencil it's number in the roof in 8 inch letters. I've decided against just getting an extra plate done and sticking it up there because it would be relatively easy to smash the letters off and possibly visible in a cursory check.

The theory is that should I be unlucky enough to have it nicked, being able to say that the VRM is on the roof might just trigger a response from police Air Support, particularly if I can supply location details from the tracker. Should it be parked and left unattended for a time, if the ASU passes on an unrelated mission they might just check the number out of curiosity and should it end up on a site amongst caravans used for full time itinerant use I suspect it would most definitely get checked if spotted.

I guess the flipside is that if an allegation of a serious driving offence is made, I'll be a lot easier to find ...

Something others may wish to consider.

 

[Reallyretired]

I just got an adhesive trailer plate from ebay and stuck it on the roof but then I'm an idle sod.

 

[Two on Tour]

I have our van registration number on our roof.
Bought my large self adhesive ones off of eBay.

 

[jwells]

Having had my van stolen recently, should we get another, I'll be doing that! If only in case I forget where I left it, just get the drone out!!

 

[donkey]

I once bought a Hymer and found a reg number on the roof in 'huge' lettering. Unfortunatly it wasn't the same as on the number plates, it had obviously had a personalised number

Geoff

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[G-RMPS]

The Civil Air Support organisation comprises volunteers with private planes who offer free help to individuals and communities.

Amongst other things we look for missing people, photograph floods, fires, traffic accidents, stranded sea mammals, plastic waste etc.

Keeping an eye open for a roof-mounted registration while out flying is something I’m sure CAS could entertain.

 

[acropolis22]

What's a VRM?

 

[royandsharont]

Vehicle Registration Mark, the correct name for your reg number

 

[Jim]

Stickers! With all the solar, 5g and wifi gadgets on my roof I might just find enough space up there to write the registration number with a medium tipped Sharpie.

 

[cyberyacht]

I made an oversize set from some black fablon so the 'flying fuzz' should be able to see it from further away.

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[Oldrat]

I made an oversize set from some black fablon so the 'flying fuzz' should be able to see it from further away.

Ha ha
That comment reminded me of an old school boy joke ..


“I got picked up by the Fuzz last night”

“Oh yeah, well I got swung around by the t1ts”

 

[Figaro]

The cynic in me tells me that if plod on the ground don't take much, if any action over stolen vehicles, plod in the air aren't going to show much interest either ?
Or am I just too cynical ?

 

[Two on Tour]

The cynic in me tells me that if plod on the ground don't take much, if any action over stolen vehicles, plod in the air aren't going to show much interest either ?
Or am I just too cynical ?

Do you not watch the TV programs Police Interceptors or Motorway Cops then?

 

[Hoovie]

This may be of interest. Big Number on the roof plus other markings and linked to a theft reporting system.

 

[Figaro]

Do you not watch the TV programs Police Interceptors or Motorway Cops then?

No I don't.
I can just imagine the call to plod though .....

"excuse me officer, my motorhome has been stolen, would you mind just scrambling your police helicopter to find and intercept the toerags, my tracker tells me it's headed south on the A*** "

I doubt they'd see it as a good use of rescources and I wouldn't blame them

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[Two on Tour]

No I don't.
I can just imagine the call to plod though .....

"excuse me officer, my motorhome has been stolen, would you mind just scrambling your police helicopter to find and intercept the toerags, my tracker tells me it's headed south on the A*** "

I doubt they'd see it as a good use of rescources and I wouldn't blame them

Yup, I have to agree with you, .......... you are a cynic.

 

[Two on Tour]

No I don't.
I can just imagine the call to plod though .....

"excuse me officer, my motorhome has been stolen, would you mind just scrambling your police helicopter to find and intercept the toerags, my tracker tells me it's headed south on the A*** "

I doubt they'd see it as a good use of rescources and I wouldn't blame them

Don't forget plod sat on motorway bridges and CCTV cameras nearly always have a high vantage point.
Maybe your reg on your roof may not be spotted but there is always a chance it will, so what's to lose by having your reg on your roof?

 

[Figaro]

Seriously though, the cost of scrambling the chopper must be in the £10's of k's per hour
Do you really think they will be willing to spend that on a stolen motorhome ?

 

[pxh38257]

I have our reg in big bold letters on the roof + 2 large circular dots approx 300mm dia in a white fluorescent plastic front and back.

 

[acropolis22]

Vehicle Registration Mark, the correct name for your reg number

Silly old me. I thought it was a Vehicle Registration Number.

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[Clive Mott]

Check the vehicle regs for the allowed positions. text size and type etc for uk number plates.

 

[Two on Tour]

Check the vehicle regs for the allowed positions. text size and type etc for uk number plates.

On the roof ............. are you having a laugh.

 

[Hoovie]

Check the vehicle regs for the allowed positions. text size and type etc for uk number plates.

Why?

 

[Hymerboy]

I once bought a Hymer and found a reg number on the roof in 'huge' lettering. Unfortunatly it wasn't the same as on the number plates, it had obviously had a personalised number

Geoff

I have the same thing, when I checked the number it came back as a land rover.

 

[Alcfire]

Just my opinion but I would have thought the last 6 numbers of your VIN would be better as it is possible that the VRN could change if someone wanted a personal number plate where as the VRN will never change

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[Barbie and Ken]

Good way of telling folks you are away from home

 

[Steve and Denise]

Good way of telling folks you are away from home

They just have to look on my drive

 

[Two on Tour]

Good way of telling folks you are away from home

And just how are they going to get address details for the VRM then?
You see my VRM on the photo I posted earlier in the thread, so tell me what my home address is then.

So what about the VRM that's on the back and front of a vehicle, more noticeable than the one on the roof to tell if your away going by your theory would you not think?

 

[Jev88]

There is a group advertising big registration or code number on vehicle including roof. I won't promote them here but people are trying something similar with a registration process.

 

[loulabelle]

We often get posts about stolen vans and the low chances of recovery. Should your van be stolen, the harsh practicalities are that it is very unlikely that a police officer who has been made aware of the theft and knows the VRM will see it moving with the real VRM displayed and ANPR systems, also reliant on a genuine VRM, won't be updated until it's long gone from the area. In a previous life I had some dealings with what was then our local Police Air Support unit, so have a small insight into what they can do. Their cameras are powerful and most definitely capable of reading number plate sized text, especially if it's facing up towards them.

My van is of an age where I suspect thieves would drive past it to look for a newer one, but I'm going to stencil it's number in the roof in 8 inch letters. I've decided against just getting an extra plate done and sticking it up there because it would be relatively easy to smash the letters off and possibly visible in a cursory check.

The theory is that should I be unlucky enough to have it nicked, being able to say that the VRM is on the roof might just trigger a response from police Air Support, particularly if I can supply location details from the tracker. Should it be parked and left unattended for a time, if the ASU passes on an unrelated mission they might just check the number out of curiosity and should it end up on a site amongst caravans used for full time itinerant use I suspect it would most definitely get checked if spotted.

I guess the flipside is that if an allegation of a serious driving offence is made, I'll be a lot easier to find ...

Something others may wish to consider.

Trevor
What an absolutely fantastic idea best tip I’ve ever read on MF, seriously going to do that thanks

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