Grow Your Own Magazine

I can't beleive it, I was leaving advice on Saturday about shed security on one of the threads, without realising that that very evening mine had been taken!

I poped to the plot to plant some tree's, only to discover that they had dismantled the entire shed and driven it away! Along with another on the site.

They had taken two tools (cheap and easily replacable) and left the entire contents strewn over a dozen plots. I'm just glad I bought fluecent gardening gloves as I could see them lying on the other side of the site.

What can you do? I had steel rods driven into the ground with railway sleepers and the whole lot was bolted to the ground. I had grills over the window and reinforced door bolts. The only thing that is left is the padlock which is intact!!! They apparently lifted the roof off with a crowbar and took it apart from inside.

So to anyone wanting advice on shed securilty I would say that your best bed is reinforced concrete !! (and yale outdoor padlocks as they couldn't get it off)

A very miserable plot holder, (Currently shopping for sheds!)
Emma

Oh Emma thats dreadful. Were the gates left open? You must contact the secretary and get it reported to the police. I have never heard of a complete shed being stolen before. Poor you.

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Emma, you poor thing, I'm really sorry - maybe next time you could put an electric current through the shed?

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www.poultrychat.com

I've contacted both the police and the council and they have both said that there is nothing that I can do and the shed isn't insured. The only entry to the site apart from private backgates is through a gate with a combination padlock. They cut the chain off with bolt cutters and stole the padlock!

If I wasn't so angry I think I could cry !!
Em

Emma, You have my sympathies. Some people would take things even if they had no use for them. I hope that the people who stole your shed have to spend the rest of their lives watching over their shoulders and don't get a moment of rest.

....and if if was a wood shed, they've got so many splinters moving the wood..

Sorry, a bit nasty of me there, but they'd deserve at least that

You can only hope septasemia (is that how it's spelt?) sets in Em. Keep your eye on the local papers o see if it appears there or e-bay ! Does your plot have a membership of the NSALG ? cos if they do it may be covered thru them, not sure.

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Emma what do the police mean "There is nothing they can do"? Your shed was stolen - theft is a police matter. Go down to the police station and demand that they listen to you. We the tax payers pay their wages. Oh I get so cross sometimes. The police should be prepared to send a patrol car passed the allotments during the day and in the evenings.

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Emma
Sorry to hear about your shed and the lack of interest by all and sundry
If you report the matter to the Police, they have to create a crime reference number - you'll need it for any insurance claim if NSALG are able to assist, and if they do not investigate, it's recorded and counts as a black mark against them - remember they are now results based and their funding is dependent on results! The Police are duty bound to make enquiries and if they don't, kick up a stink with your local council, or MP about their lack of interest. It would be worthwhile getting together with the other victim and presenting a joint united front.
Are there any CCTV cameras on any of the roads in the area, or on the main roads in your area - ask them to check these for vehicles and index numbers - shouldn't be too hard to spot a pick-up van with two sheds on it. Operate on the assumption it was a pick-up as the sheds can just be thrown on the back as opposed to having to be dragged into and leant against the sides of a standard van - quicker and easier - thieving bast***s tend to be lazy bast***s.
In short, do not be intimidated by the Police and do not let them fob you off. Find out the name of your Community Police Officer and bug his ass about it like there is no tomorrow - that's why they are there - and you and I and every other tax paying citizen pay his wage - so demand that he works for it - or at least shows some bloody interest.
Where abouts in Surrey are you - I still have some Polis contacts down there - might be able to bend an ear 4 you.

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday 17th September

Oh Emma! Sorry to hear about your shed!! What's wrong with these people?? They must be doing the rounds in Surrey. A few weeks ago a state-of-the-art brand new mower (together with some tools) was stolen from another shed in my allotment site in Guildford. It was stolen from this lovely 80-year-old man who paid a fortune for it, he wasn't insured and he now cannot afford another one!!
I hope those b****y thieves get what they deserve!!!!!
Where abouts in Surrey are you?

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Acorn

I've never had an allotment so forgive me if this sound stupid, but if you own a smallholding you can take out insurance on it, is it possible for all the allotment holders on one site to club together and insure everyone's belongings yet club together for the cost?

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www.poultrychat.com

Emma - awful news.
were you both targeted because they were new(ish) sheds ?
As our local Homewatch co-ordinator, I am informed off all the local break- ins and car thefts in our locality. This is via e-mail from the regional Homewatch manager based at a local police station. I send an e-mail of this info to all those on my register on a fortnightly basis. My neighbours are then aware of any local trends and also have the opportunity to report anything they may consider useful to the police. Are your sheds near any houses as they may have a Homewatch scheme up and running and maybe noticed the 'work in progress' without being aware it was a theft going on? I'm sure they would like to know as it may be their property next! They may well be on the look out for you all more in the future.
You could also try putting up signs for any passers by for info.
Do contact the local Homewatch co-ordinator or manager . If they are not very helpful pm me and I will see what I can do for you.
You may not get your sheds back but if they are caught you will at least feel some justice may be done! (1000 hrs community service....digging allotments would be useful!!)
Chin up kid...

That's just awful, they are total gits - the energy they put into to taking the sheds, would have taken hours, they are brainless morons. You have my sympathy.

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Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

Emma, I am so sorry about this. We are planning to buy a shed in the summer (this is our first year). How big was your shed? We were just planning to put it on site without any security etc. but suppose we will have to think again.

All the best and I hope the buggers get whats coming to them soon.

Really sorry to hear it Emma, I know that what goes around comes around and they will get theirs eventually.

When you get a new shed, consider painting it red and white with 'Stolen from Emma's Plot' painted on every panel. That way, if they get stopped, you can prove its yours and so they will look elsewhere.

Darren

Hi,

Thanks so much to you all for your kind words. In reply, I live just off Jct 6 M25 and the plot isn't to far from there too. I have contacted the Police and the council and the woman who also had her shed stolen at the same time is on a one women crusade. She insisted that SOCO came out and dusted for finger prints, but they apear to have worn gloves. I did find a set of wire cutters where the shed was that didn't belong to me and they have taken them to look for fingerprints. The problem being I only found out on Tuesday and the weather has been so bad they reckon that there won't be any evidence left! The police have basically said that the odds on finding the shed or who took it is remote and they can't justify the resources to look. Which I can understand even if it isn't fair and I technically pay their wages. The woman at the council is just plain unhelpful and knows nothing about allotments. On top of that I drove her mad last year calling at least once a month to try and secure the plot next to me. So I'm not exactly her favourite person right now. The other plot holders were surprised that when they reported it and tried to get hold of me that she know my name address and plot number off by heart!! (It was the only way of guaranteeing getting the new plot)

The allotment site I'm on is great, its surrounded on 3 sides by houses and most of the people have got plots. So there is a real sense of community there, but knowone saw anything and there isn't and CCTV camara's. I think I may be a member of the NSALG, so thanks for mentioning that as I'm going to get in contact with them.

Overall we've done all we can, I'm just waiting until I have enough money to buy another one. Although as the last one was a really good quality new one, I may just get a secondhand one to reduce the chances of it walking again.

But the icing on the cake was the fact that the Black outdoor grape I bought to grow over it and the 4 varitety pear I was planning on training as an Espalier at the front, arrived yesterday!! So I'm now trying to find new homes for them in my garden, as they are currently standing bare root in a plastic bag wrapped in straw!!

But hey ho, I suppose that is all part of life. With the run of bad luck I've had over the last couple of years I must be in for a good lottery win or something.

Thanks again everyone,
Em
X

It beggars belief that the value of a stolen shed could be worth the trouble and effort of defeating the site access restrictions and then risk being caught doing both that and stealing the shed off the plot. Like this incident and burglary etc. generally; don't let them beat you. Yes get a new shed and return to normal, they don't deserve to get both the shed and cause you to change your life. Commiserations.

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"Always willing to learn"

I can't beleive it I went to visit my shedless plot on friday to discover a bright yello sign on the NEW gate declaring that there was CCTV in operation. I thought the sign was only a deterant as I couldn't see any camaras, but low and behold a car arrived an hour later with two community support officers who have put up two shiny new camaras with motion detectors!!!. They are also looking to replace the fencing at the back on the plot that borders a footpath!!!! and follow up the lead I have!!!!!

I am in shock, but at least they have taken us seriously at last!!
x

Well I suppose you shouldn't have the same again Emma. Good to know that they took it seriously. We had a break in last year & they stole the sites strimmer, the treasurer was quite pleased cos we got a new one and the old one was knackered & dangerous !

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Emma that is really good news. Perseverance does pay off.

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Hi I'm fairly new to owning an allotment, but on a plot near mine an entire greenhouse was taken!! The owner was there in the morning, went home at lunch time, but when she returned in the afternoon the greenhouse was gone. I just can't believe that anyone has got the b***s to dismantle an entire shed or greenhouse in broad daylight. what is the world coming to???????

Sad, Sad ,Sad, My wife wants to return to UK as we retired to France, I am reluctant as we watch UK TV and so much crime in UK, here we can leave our doors unlocked, keys in our car, no muggins, young children and youths who are courteous to elders and each other, the only problem they speak a different 'lingo' and being in our 70's it take a bit of doing to learn. I dread returning but have to do as wife wants, just hope I can pick a good spot to live that is crime free and friendly.
Also we only pay £400 per year council tax here, no road fund licence for cars, no TV licence, fuel is cheaper, food prices about the same but its does include vat, wait till GB intro vat on food in UK.
However, I sympathise with your plight, UK should have the Gendarmes there, they sort it out.