Beware - Professional Gardeners being targeted by thieves

[muddywolf 10]

Stupid comment ... this is peoples livelihoods we're talking about here

 

To the gardeners ... is it possible to fit transponders in the machinery so that it could be tracked? The one I got for my motorbike (about ten years ago) cost about fifty quid if I remember correctly (fortunately, it never had to be used). Sad that you'd have to think about this though.

Yes it is, but still it's far from lowest of the low, no need for exaggeration.

 

Have someone steal your lawn mower or car jack you?

Steal your hedge trimmers or mug you at knife point?

 

I'm not saying either is nice but it's not the lowest form of criminal is it.

[Alcoblog 10]

Yes it is, but still it's far from lowest of the low, no need for exaggeration.

 

Have someone steal your lawn mower or car jack you?

Steal your hedge trimmers or mug you at knife point?

 

I'm not saying either is nice but it's not the lowest form of criminal is it.

 

Yeah ... I've been held at knife point twice by the same person (about twenty years ago) it's not nice. I've also had a load of woodwork tools and machinery stolen from my workshop before ... that wasn't nice either. I'd say the emotional turmoil of having a knife at my throat was less than that of the tool theft ... it took a lot longer to get back to normal. Some of the wood carving chisels I'd had specially made and meant a lot to me.

 

My best friend owned a company specialising in British sports cars in Cambridgeshire ... a really intelligent guy who lived for his work.

The only time I've ever seen him cry was when thieves broke into his workshop and stole £50,000 of Snap-on tools (and the £5,000 customised tool chest). Not to mention very rare parts for a car he was building for himself (a very early TR2) ... worth pence for scrap, but priceless and irreplaceable. He told me at the time that he thought he knew what it must feel like to be raped. He packed in the business.

[andygardener 10]

Yes it is, but still it's far from lowest of the low, no need for exaggeration.

 

Have someone steal your lawn mower or car jack you?

Steal your hedge trimmers or mug you at knife point?

 

I'm not saying either is nice but it's not the lowest form of criminal is it.

 

The point is a dirtbag knowingly taking a mans ability, at least till he can get his kit replaced, to make an honest living. That's damn low. They know they are not just stealing the kit, they are also stealing earnings.

 

I'd be fine with it if we could kill them if we catch them but then the human rights brigade would be out in force if we held a "feed a tool thief into the chipper" day to highlight the issue of theft from landscapers.

[Strix 11]

I hope you all have a log of your serial numbers

 

Stuff like this frequently crops up on Facebook sales groups, which I've often raised an eyebrow at (and how the heck does somebody wind up with 13 power sanders to flog as a joblot on eBay?)

[scousemouse 10]

The same thing happened at Bents green two weeks ago, The truck was on the drive and locked, but they tried to get in through the boot, don't think they got in though. How brazen are these scumbags? The gardener was at the back of the house...............

[Chez2 10]

Can you etch, paint or mark your postcode on the tools or pain them in bright colours to deter them from taking them?

[Brian's mate 10]

Just got turned over today. They took a Stihl HS45 hedgetrimmer and a Stihl MS250 chainsaw out of the back of my van. The van was parked way down a clients drive with the back doors facing the clients garage. There were 4 of us working on site at various locations. None of us saw anything and we only spotted them missing when we did a 'stock check' at the end of the job.

We were on Prospect Road at Bradway. I'm going to work for the next two weeks just to get the money to replace them. Really wish I'd seen them doing it. It's really low to steal the tools of a man's trade and prevent him from working. Please all be vigilant. Basil / Acerspades.

[Chez2 10]

Just got turned over today. They took a Stihl HS45 hedgetrimmer and a Stihl MS250 chainsaw out of the back of my van. The van was parked way down a clients drive with the back doors facing the clients garage. There were 4 of us working on site at various locations. None of us saw anything and we only spotted them missing when we did a 'stock check' at the end of the job.

We were on Prospect Road at Bradway. I'm going to work for the next two weeks just to get the money to replace them. Really wish I'd seen them doing it. It's really low to steal the tools of a man's trade and prevent him from working. Please all be vigilant. Basil / Acerspades.

 

So sorry to hear your news. Did you mark the items so they can be traced or made difficult to sell?

[Brian's mate 10]

Sadly not Chez, unless marked by my blood sweat and tears counts ?

[Rozie 10]

They are still at it!! We had 2 Stihl strimmers and a Sthil hedge cutter stolen from our vehicle. They smashed the back window of the vehicle and broke the chains off the machines whilst we had the blowers going, working round the side of the flats at Ladies Spring Court, Abbeydale Road South - near Dore and Totley Station. It was parked near to the hairdressers shop. No one saw or heard a thing.

 

All the machinery was marked and our post code melted into the orange plastic covers. This is a great set back for us. If anyone saw anyone or anything suspicious today around lunchtime please let me know. We have informed the police.

[mrs brady 10]

otherwise, if not stopped, the thieves are going to put gardeners out of business.

 

They put me out of business 6 years ago , my round was in the beauchief area, i was robbed numerous times

[scousemouse 10]

........thought about getting a dog to guard your van? A friend of mine has a van for his company, his dog is daftest softest boy out of the van........in it he is a wonderful guard, he knows me well but I wouldn't dream of going close to him when he is 'on duty'