Claiming goods washed ashore from a wreck - Page 2

Phanerothyme · 23-01-2007, 12:14

The Beachcombers have also made something of a mess of the beach, which is a shame.

mrmist · 23-01-2007, 12:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by dafoot

Can they really expect to collect the value of dog food that they spent in fuel/time?

I think it's fair to say that people with the sheep mentality to go and filch a couple of cans of dog food and some nappies probably haven't considered the wider issues.

muddycoffee · 23-01-2007, 12:41

I feel sorry for the families who's belongings have been in the wreck. As there are many containers which contain the belongings of people moving abroad. Could you imagine finding your family heirlooms and valuables for sale on e-bay, after some thieving get has stolen them from the scene.

willman · 23-01-2007, 12:44

[QUOTE=beckelina;1880588]It's not theft.
If they declare it properly it is salvage.
However most people don't bother to declare it.
QUOTE]

so if they don't declare it and pay for it (as is the law) they've stolen it.
they should be prosecuted like any other criminal.

Bikertec · 23-01-2007, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phanerothyme

The Beachcombers have also made something of a mess of the beach, which is a shame.

Right and the 30,000 tons of oil and tons of cargo are not going to make a mess of the beach.

Bikertec · 23-01-2007, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by muddycoffee

I feel sorry for the families who's belongings have been in the wreck. As there are many containers which contain the belongings of people moving abroad. Could you imagine finding your family heirlooms and valuables for sale on e-bay, after some thieving get has stolen them from the scene.

But surly professional salvage companies who bring things up from the sea bed are doing the same thing.

fox20thc · 23-01-2007, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by willman

so if they don't declare it and pay for it (as is the law) they've stolen it. they should be prosecuted like any other criminal.

I bet you would have had me in the stocks when I was a kid. A HGV spilled its load of tins of Bachelors mushy peas all over the parkway, we legged it over their and filled loads of bags. The police helped us until a member of the lorry company turned up, then told us to stop.

Dark Moomin · 23-01-2007, 12:50

According to the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, if you salvage anything from a ship wreck you muist declare it to the receiver of Wrecks.

What you are actually doing is removing the item for safe keeping.

The rightful owner of the goods still owns it and has every right to come and collect it from you. They may offer a reward, but they don't have to.

of course, in the case of water damaged nappies they may not bother, but none the less, there is nothing that says you can grab what you want and keep it, thatmost definately is theft.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6287047.stm

Dark Moomin · 23-01-2007, 12:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by fox20thc

I bet you would have had me in the stocks when I was a kid. A HGV spilled its load of tins of Bachelors mushy peas all over the parkway, we legged it over their and filled loads of bags. The police helped us until a member of the lorry company turned up, then told us to stop.

Don't know how the law views that - would be a different act as it wasn't from a ship - guess its still technically theft.

willman · 23-01-2007, 12:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by fox20thc

I bet you would have had me in the stocks when I was a kid. A HGV spilled its load of tins of Bachelors mushy peas all over the parkway, we legged it over their and filled loads of bags. The police helped us until a member of the lorry company turned up, then told us to stop.

it might not have been the stocks,but it would have involved bending over & spanking for sure.

Joanl · 23-01-2007, 13:00

According to our local news, the main "looting" is being done in Devon within sight of the sinking ship, with some stuff already on ebay.

Here in Dorset, it seems to be the wildlife that is taking first priority. Oil covered birds etc.

cgksheff · 23-01-2007, 13:05

As indicated by meumeu77 & muddycoffee, this puts a slightly different perspective on it:

"Coastguard officials have accused scavengers of "sheer greed".

That is a view reflected by one family who were shocked to see pictures of their belongings being looted from one crate on the beach.

Anita and Jan Bokdal's possessions were being transported on the MSC Napoli from their native Sweden to South Africa, where they have bought a wine farm.

They were horrified to see pictures in the media of their belongings, including photographs and family heirlooms, being emptied on to the beach.

She said the police should have done more to stop the looters.

"For me it's stealing our things....as far as I know the police should have been there in the beginning and stopped this. The law must do something about it, " said Mrs Bokdal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6289371.stm

meumeu77 · 23-01-2007, 13:09

which is exactly what myself and muddycoffee have pointed out!

Joanl · 23-01-2007, 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by muddycoffee

I feel sorry for the families who's belongings have been in the wreck. As there are many containers which contain the belongings of people moving abroad. Could you imagine finding your family heirlooms and valuables for sale on e-bay, after some thieving get has stolen them from the scene.

Yes and they are showing them to camera like they are soooo clever.

Don't care what the ins and outs of it are legally, to me its just pure and evil theft.....on the back of someone elses misfortune.

Zaytsev · 23-01-2007, 15:46

No better than looters, the yanks were shooting people like these in New Orleans.

Skip rat scum the lot of em.

23-01-2007, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgksheff

As indicated by meumeu77 & muddycoffee, this puts a slightly different perspective on it:

"Coastguard officials have accused scavengers of "sheer greed".

That is a view reflected by one family who were shocked to see pictures of their belongings being looted from one crate on the beach.

Anita and Jan Bokdal's possessions were being transported on the MSC Napoli from their native Sweden to South Africa, where they have bought a wine farm.

They were horrified to see pictures in the media of their belongings, including photographs and family heirlooms, being emptied on to the beach.

She said the police should have done more to stop the looters.

"For me it's stealing our things....as far as I know the police should have been there in the beginning and stopped this. The law must do something about it, " said Mrs Bokdal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6289371.stm

I completely agree, and commented on the BBC news feedback form along these lines this morning.

Imagine packing up your house contents into a container, and then it being washed up. To me it's like having your house gutted by a fire, and then having the whole village pick through the remains once it has been put out - how would you feel?

My family had belongings shipped half way round the world in a container once, and the container was "lost" for several weeks, and fortunately found, but we were all very upset at the thought of what might have happened to everything!

I know some of the items are from big companies, and I'm sure the people taking things think it doesn't matter to them, but I think it is greedy and should be classed as theft, whether it is declared or not. It's one thing finding something washed up on the beach when you have no idea where it may have come from, it's another to take it like this. If a lorry had spilled it's load on the motorway would they do the same?

They should be spending their time helping the authorities and charities clear up the spilled chemicals, which could potentially cause large scale and long-lasting damage to the wildlife in the area.

viking · 23-01-2007, 15:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by waldershelf

I saw this on the news last night and the first "salvager" the reporter interviewed was a scouser. How's that for stereotyping?

HERE are his mates waiting for the trains to transport them down there.

saxon51 · 23-01-2007, 16:37

Legal or not, it's an antiquated law, and should be changed. Seeing your personal belongings being shared out between a pair of vultures is bad enough, but imagine the illegal shipment of arms being washed up and claimed by some thieving nutter.

On a lighter note, if anyone finds the container of 'illegals', do they get to keep them?

melthebell · 23-01-2007, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by FYTC

No better than looters, the yanks were shooting people like these in New Orleans.

Skip rat scum the lot of em.

lol
i expected no less from this forum YAY!! not disappointed

if you live by the sea youd know its a long held tradition to salvage stuff from wrecks, lost containers
yes its bad for the people whove lost stuff............. **** happens, thats life
and yes it IS legal.i heard on the news as long as they declare it within 28 days it is not theft.

can anybody on here safely say if they were on a beach and lots of stuff came to shore you WOULDNT scrounge anything? i think the majority of people would

melthebell · 23-01-2007, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxon51

On a lighter note, if anyone finds the container of 'illegals', do they get to keep them?

only if theyre a consignment of lady boys

errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrm