Cheeky F...ers

Mother · 2004-04-23T12:06:48+00:00

I noticed on the CCTV that a couple of people were showing an interestin my clollection of Landies outside. Watching them for a bit itbecame apparent that they were writing the registration numbers down.They were not the usual 'enthusiastic number plate collector' type -they were a middle aged couple...Odd, I thought, the Bailiff isn't due for a good couple of weeks :-)So, I went out and asked them what they were doing.They ignored me - point blank - as if I wasn't there.So I accidentally removed the pad upon which they'd been jotting.(Note, it was not my intention to permanently deprive them of theirproperty).This seemed to have the effect of getting their attention (well, thatand the appearance of Max). I offered to call the police, as Ibelieved they were up to no good - possibly 'casing the place'.After a few constructive and polite requests to know WTF they weredoing, they mentioned that they were collecting registration numbersof, and I quote "Jeeps and other off road 4x4 cars".I had little time to continue this interesting liaison as I was latefor a meeting. I mentioned to them that they were currently beingrecorded on the CCTV and that I believed by their actions I was havingmy privacy invaded (yes, I had to think quicky as I was late, probablynot the best avenue really), and finished by mentioning that dogs bite(Note, I did not threaten them that 'my' dog would bite them. I wasmerely making an observation that some dogs do bite).They scuttled away, rather quickly - up the road, into a red NissanMicra and 'ked 'orf... Didn't get their registration - b*gger.Dunno what's behind this, may be a heads up to some form of list beingcollated by the 'anti' brigade - one would have thought such a listwould have been better prepared by listing vehicles that were actually'off road', not legally parked outside on the road...

D

Derry Argue 22 years ago

Going back to the original post before all this testerone starting flying around, could they have been from the DVLA and checking number plates to check vehicle tax?

I was having a snooze in a layby when a face appeared at the window. The guy asked about my fuel and said he would like to dip the tank. (I was driving a Peugeot 504 at the time -- not worth stealing). "Costumes & Exercises", thought I and said to go right ahead. They did their stuff and gave me no cause for suspicion. They were in civies and driving (as I recall) an oldish red Ford van.

I now wonder if they were a couple of chancers checking the vehicle to see if it had been abandoned! Must phone HMC&M to see if they do this sort of thing in unmarked cars. Just a thought.

Derry

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David G. Bell 22 years ago

If they were legitimate, DVLA or C&E or whatever, they would have ID they could, and should, have shown when challenged.

That's what makes the first case so suspicious.

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Nige 22 years ago

I am going to repeat what I have already said. I am NOT condoning telling lies to the Police, but if *I* feel threatened by someone with a weapon of any kind I WILL ring the police as it is their job to deal with this.

I take it from your reply that you are a Police officer, if you want me to spend a day at work with you I would accept with joy!

I don't have a problem with the actual Police officers, just the way that real crime is dealt with & the way motorists are dealt with.

Since this thread came about my brother in law has had some real hassle. Some lads keep riding loud motorbikes past his house. He asked them to stop & a bit of swearing etc started so he told them to get on their way. After

15 minutes they cam back with baseball bats. He called the Police & they didn't come even though he & his family where in real danger. What do you have to do to get officers on the scene of a real crime?

Cheers

Nige

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Mother 22 years ago

They were not really 'official' in any sense of the word. 'Nosey busibodies' rather sums them up. I'd have expected anyone 'official' to have identified themselves when challenged.

No doubt I'll find out eventually - hope it isn't via another faked article in a Ramblers magazine (for those who don't know, one of the happy clappy mags for wankers, sorry, walkers, stole a pic off my site

- taken at Eastnor Castle off road course a few years ago, and passed it off a a covert shot of another 'Jeep' churning up the countryside).

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Mother 22 years ago

Would you please remind me to collar you for a new keyboard next time we should meet... :-)

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Mother 22 years ago

Could well have been today - over an inch of rain in less than an hour, warm too...

Must be Monsoon Season!

Gin and Tonic all round :-)

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Lee_D 22 years ago

I would have been proud of that one if I'd intended the last sentance to be quite so ..well er... you know.

:-)

It was an honest mistake guv'

Cheers,

Lee D

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Austin Shackles 22 years ago

On or around Mon, 26 Apr 2004 22:50:07 +0100, Mother enlightened us thusly:

I trust you pointed out the error of their ways, and demanded a printed apology for the copyright infringement?

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Mother 22 years ago

The "apology" was one and a half lines acknowledging a 'graphics error'... I have subsequently revised the 'THIS IS COPYRIGHT' notice on my site.

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Mother 22 years ago

It was, quite rightfully, a long sentence...

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balloons 22 years ago

Had a similar thing happen to me a few years ago. I was driving up an unsurfaced road near the Ridgeway to assist with the recovery of a hot air balloon that landed there. A few days later there was a half-page photograph of my car in the Torygraph with the heading 'Right to wreck the Ridgeway?' (or something similar). This was clearly set up, as the photo was taken from the top of a bank behind the car with a handpainted sign between car and camera saying 'Unsuitable for vehicular access' (placed there *after* I had driven past!). They didn't even have the courtesy to either blank out my numberplate, allow my right to reply or offer any apology.

Malcolm

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Cheeky F...ers

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