"'Mike'" wrote in message
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"MuddyMike" wrote in message
om...

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
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"Bob Hobden" wrote ...

Went out this morning to move my car before the street filled up with
commuters vehicles and my front gate was gone. It was a wrought iron one
we had had for about 25 years, most annoying. Neighbour says he saw two
men running down the road at about 11.30 last night carrying a long ally
ladder so looks like the scrap men were around last night. Before I buy
another gate, if I can get one to fit, how do others secure their gates?
This old one just hung on two hooks set in the brick post.


Turns out at least two other houses have lost their iron gates the same
night and one was secured, they thought!
Much to the amusement of the person that showed it to me there is an
article in "The Times" today about this epidemic spreading through the
country and calling for better enforcement and a change in the law with
regard to scrap metal dealers.
They get a couple of pounds for the scrap and I have to spend £50 plus a
lot of work to replace it with a cheap one.

Scrapyards paying out in cash should be banned. If scrap was paid for by
bank transfer only it would stamp out 90% of metal theft.

Mike


Whenever I have taken scrap cable or copper into a scrap yard, I have had
forms to fill in AND my vehicle registration number has been taken.


But you were probably paid in cash? No amount of form filling or number
taking will stop the pikeys stealing anything metal that's not securely
screwed down. I wonder what address they give on the form and to register
the vehicle. Lay-by 3 miles East of town!

Mike