Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Peter Fitness on May 09, 2008, 11:29:54 am
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I've just had a message from one of our club members back home in Australia letting me know that the container at our sailing lake has been broken into, set on fire, and all the contents destroyed. Our club
has had, a good ride on mower, which was pushed into the lake, and as the lake is salt water, the insurance company wrote it off. Our 10' aluminium rescue dinghy was melted by the heat of the fire, as were the electric outboard motor, push mower and grass trimmer. We also had 4 club boats plus their radios stored in the container, as well as folding chairs and 4 collapsible gazebos. Our frequency board was found relatively unharmed, floating in the lake. Apparently the culprits used bolt cutters to gain access, so one would question whether kids were involved. Perhaps they pushed the mower into the lake out of spite, as it was quite tricky to start due to safety features. Fortunately our insurance will cover most of the loss, but it just makes me so angry at the senselessness of it. >>:-( >>:-( The container also had a professionally painted mural on it, which we had cleaned graffiti from, just before I left for overseas. The photo shows the container before a roof had been built over it.
Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Peter.
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Hi Peter,
Sad news. It is possible the perps assumed wrongly that models were kept in the container. I doubt it was proffessinal thieves, as they would not have spent needles time to set fire, and risk getting caught. Probably drunken kids.
At least you were insured.
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You're probably right TT. If it was kids, and if by chance they were caught, they would most likely get nothing more than a slap on the wrist, and told not to do it again.
It still makes me mad though, and I can't imagine the mentality of people who would commit such a mindless and destructive act.
BRING BACK CORPORAL PUNISHMENT I SAY, AND GIVE THEM A GOOD FLOGGING. Have to catch them first, and anyway, flogging them would be an infringement of their "rights". Rant over.
Peter.
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I have to object to the assumption that all vandalism is carried out by "kids".
Does attributing it to "kids" add anything to a sad story of needless vandalism? Why increase the gulf between adults and "kids" by immediately jumping to unnecessary conclusions?
Such immediate assumptions without any evidence often reflects on those making the remark (and possibly their age).
Before anyone says, "....but it usually is kids...", let me ask that when you know and have evidence, then say it. Otherwise it may be wrong and is usually unnecessary.
Not a trendy liberal just someone who once ran a rather large youth service and believes that there are many great youngsters about and even if some/many are not all that great they are, nonetheless our future.
Roger in France.
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I think Roger is correct, it is not always kids that cause the problems, I have recently had graffiti painted on the wall of my property, but I know this was done after 10-30pm on a school night so I suspect and so do the Police that it was more likely to be someone in their late teens, early 20's.
Kids do sometimes damage things but NOT always.
Alan
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It depends how you define the word "kids". Most of the vandalism occurring in our area is perpetrated by young people, under the age of 20. I am not implying that those who damaged our container were very young, but having said that, it would not surprise me if they were. Our area has had problems with groups of youngsters, some of them only 10 to 12 years old, causing damage to property quite late at night, often as late as midnight or even after. In cases such as these, one has to ask "Where are the parents, how is it that children of that age are out at that time of night?". However, given the fact that bolt cutters were used to remove the, supposedly secure, padlocks, it would seem that at least some of them were in their late teens or older.
Roger, I'm not sure how "making a remark like that" reflects on me, or my age. Perhaps it's because when you get to my age, anyone under the age of 25 is a kid. ;D
Peter.
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Peter,
No, it is because after some years it is easy (too easy) to say "It's those kids". But we need not do it with a little generosity. After all are our children not entitled to say "Look at the mess the world is in, it's those adults"?
Hey take me back to your cruise, it is much more fun than my kitchen table philosophising!
Roger in France.
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Sorry to here your news Peter. :(
I suppose at the end of the day it don't matter who done it, the fact is it was done and worse still was almost certainly pre meditated.
I would support your idea of youngsters I'm afraid, sorry Roger.
My reasons for this would be - nothing stolen - if I were to have committed the crime (47yrs) - I would have nicked some stuff to sell at a car boot or similar.
I agree with Roger in the fact it's all too easy to point a finger, but two 13 - 16 yr olds at a school in Birmingham I worked at this year (separate occasions) were 'Excluded' for bringing loaded 'real' guns into school, they grow up far too quickly - a pair of bolt cutters could be purchased 'legally' over the counter.
Gary :(
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OK I recant. :embarrassed: It wasn't kids.
It was me and a bunch of other GOGS, high on Sanatogen and elderbery wine. ;)
Raising hell coz the nurse hid the prozac :embarrassed:, we are envious of the fun other modellers are having, and are jealous of Peter Fitness's obvious virility for his age. O0
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Let me reasure some of you! I'm 23 (so therefore a kid in some of your eyes). Having spent all my life in a house being vandalised and having mine and my family's cars vandilised, I can honestly say that this is one "kid" who would never make anyone go through what I had to! All my friends have the same morals as me and I know for a fact we will bring our kids up to know that that sort of behaviour is well and truely wrong and punishable!
We're not all bad :)
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No one is saying ALL youngsters are bad.
It is the same old story the minority ruin it for the majority.
It is most likely that "youngsters" did the damage as older ones will steal. Not just ruin.
There lies the problem, a few "youngsters" can do a lot of serious damage to property and reputations in a very short time.
Bob
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Who cares WHO done it. The main issue is that SOME dirty little waste of skin has busted-up Peter Fitness's clubhouse. The whole thing stinks and I for one would feel gutted if'n it were to happen to I.
So, to this end, a quick word to Mr Fitness...
Dude, if you can hear me, I'm offering a couple of old boats and a couple of old transmitters if it's any help towards getting your club back on the road. The transmitters' ARE old, by today's standard, but they are working. Both are complete with receivers - and I'll even bung in a few servos. The boats are both Fairacre II cruiser models. They're not super-swanky by any means, but they're yours if you think it'll help. Don't fret on shipping fees - I'll take care of that from this end.
I'll also rally around and ask a few of my mates if they want to chip in. Maybe even a few Mayhem'ers might want to do ditto. Maybe we can get enough gear together and send it all together in one package.
In the meantime, don't let it ruin your hols. Pse pass on my condolences to you clubmates.
A kind and well meant post. Pity about a little innapropriate language. Moderated
Roger in France
Global Moderator.
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Rog, you failed to include the hypthon between 'well' and 'meant'. Although, I'm sure you know that already, being that you're a man of education.
Say, while you're there, how do you fancy being the first to join me in offering Mr Fitness's club a few freebies? You know - you being half British and all.
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Sorry I've taken so long to reply, but I have had no internet access. We are currently in Eastbourne with friends, and I'm using their computer. Thanks PMK for your very kind offer, but fortunately our club is fully insured and replacement equipment will be acquired, but I really appreciate your offer. I only have a few more days left in the UK, as we leave for London tomorrow, and fly out on Monday 26th.
Peter
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Just AFTER the Mayhem weekend then Peter!!!
Bob
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Have a safe flight :) (thought you might be sailing though!) ;D
Regards
Gary
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Yes Bob, unfortunately I won't be at Wicksteed, but would have loved to go. We have just driven into central London - was that an experience!! We are staying near Paddington station, and I had to drop the car off near Marble Arch, would have been reasonably easy except for b@#***y road works, even the access to our hotel was barricaded off. However, we're here and have free internet access too, so it's not all bad.
I watched some RC sailors in Eastbourne on Sunday, and found it very interesting. I haven't had anything to do with sailing, so it looked rather confusing to me, with yachts going every which way, and someone shouting instructions to some of the skippers, maybe they were incurring penalties. The Eastbourne lake looked very nice too, and the weather seemed ideal, with a brisk breeze keeping the models moving quite quickly. Maybe I should have a go at that branch of the hobby, we have some good sailing water quite close to us at home.
Peter
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No sweat, Mr. F.
From my experience of working with you Oz boys, I'm pretty sure you would have done the same for a Pom.
Pretty sure you'll be homeward bound or maybe even home by the time you read this. So here's a belated 'bon voyage'.
By the way, You were in Minehead just the other day. About 16 miles as the crow flies from my neck of the woods. Shame we didn't get to meet.
Thanks for posting all them pics - especially the Panama canal. (So what really happened to that container?)
Re: the clubhouse. Keep us posted on what's happening.
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Glad you liked the pics PMK. I can only guess what happened to those containers, but I'm glad I wasn't in one. I'm still in London, the hotel has free WIFI internet, and we always carry our laptop with us. We fly out Monday night - it takes about 24 hours including a short stop in Singapore. Where exactly do you live?
Peter.
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A small village just outside of Bridgwater. Depending on which route you took, you reached Minehead either via Bridgwater or Taunton. Both routes pretty much within spitting distance of here. Seems a shame you came all this way and yet........
Can't say I'm envious of your forthcoming flight. All that time on the big metal bird, crammed in like sardines.... The 10-hr flight to California is usually enough to get me tearing at the windows, let alone 24 hours of that particular caper. Enjoy your journey home, though (even if it means going all that time without a ciggie!).
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We went to Minehead via Bridgewater, but we also went for a drive to Taunton whilst in Minehead. Also went to such places as Lynmouth and Porlock Weir, plus we did a trip on the West Somerset Railway to Bishops Lydeard. We liked Minehead, and stayed in a friend's apartment in Metropole Court, right on the waterfront, and only 200 metres from the railway station.
Peter
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A pity you couldnt have popped 2 miles down the road, i had a couple of tinnies in the fridge just in case!!
Just glad you enjoyed your trip!!
Bob
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As mentioned in my original post, our club's shipping container / storage shed was broken into and destroyed by fire earlier this year.
I'm happy to report that we now have a new container on site, as of this morning our time. After much hard work by some of our members, and kindness by some of the local business community, we were able to obtain an almost new container, aluminium, lined inside with stainless steel, and insulated. It was originally a refrigerated container, which explains the insulation, so it will be ideal in our sub-tropical climate. In a well co-ordinated operation, which involved a truck to take away the old container, another truck delivering the new one, a crane to do the lifting, and a local council team to control traffic, the old container was removed, and the new one put in place.
We will now be able to replace some of the destroyed items, and house them in a (hopefully) more secure facility. Some photos of the proceedings are below.
Peter.
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I am very pleased for you and your club members Peter. Now you just have to keep the little darlings out of it...
Is anybody going to paint a theme on it? or will that just encourage the yobs?
Barry
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Might do more good locking the so & sos inside it! It's insulated so you won't hear them scream. Then you can get on with the boating....
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Barry, we will be painting a mural on it ASAP, at the moment, the lovely white sides scream "graffiti me" %)
Colin, it's a good idea to lock them inside, but first they have to be caught.
Peter.
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Colin B you really do have some good ideas <*< <*< <*<
Colin H.
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Dear Peter,
Have just noticed your Post. Very sorry to hear, but glad to hear things are rapidly being put right :-))
The problem of feral uncontrolled children is a growing one unfortunately (UK anyway), and as this grows, the problem of unruly,uncaring, unprincipled teenagers unfortunately grows with it as a result >:-o
Schools find it increasingly difficulty to maintain control (I refrain from using the word discipline as this went into the PC bin years ago!), since there is little they can do to enforce it, and there are not that many who are capable of doing it in the way it should be done anyway - as sign of the times maybe? Whatever anyone says, once children go to Upper schools these days, and see the antics and behaviour of a 'significant number', and how little the authorities do and can do about it, the problem accelerates. Furthermore, the so called procedures available to the Courts to deal with such matters is in the main pitifully inadequate, and not helped by Magistrates and Judiciary who like to be seen to be being PC - for personal gain whatever. The end result is that completely the wrong signal is sent out to those who should be receiving the full brunt of the meaning, however as a result, the Courts get laughed at... and so the wheel turns! Is it a bit like this in Aust. these days?
It is likely your Group might turn out to be aware of the culprits. They will not be too far away. Obviously they 'went prepared' and were very deliberate in their purpose, so it wasn't just a chance in-passing 'whim' matter. Anyway, what's done is done, and I hope that the perpetrators will be caught, but, it would be wise to have a very solid steel construction built over the locking area to prevent bolt cutters being used again - the only way of getting in then would be oxy acetylene, and the chance of this happening would be remote! :-))
One other suggestion. They will definitely without any doubt return, CCTV would be a rather good idea. If you cannot connect them from the previous offence, you can at least be aware of what might happen again and try them for it. I have a zero tolerance of such things, and have no truck whatsoever for the do-gooding attitudes of those who support the law breaking of others - they, now, similarly as the perpetrators of the original crime, must accept the same responsibility as the offenders (seeing as they defend same), therefore, I see them in the same light as the original offenders. Harsh words I know, but that's the world we live in now... the offenders determine such. <*<
So that the Moderators are aware, this will not go beyond this statement as I will not state any further! ok2
Regards, Bernard
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Bernard (Polaris), Thank you for your comments. Regarding lock protection, if you look at the photos I posted, you will notice a grey area on the door of the new container, which is exactly as you described. The only access to the lock is from the bottom, preventing bolt cutters from being used.
CCTV would be good, but there is no power nearby, and besides, the cost would be prohibitive for our small group.
The offenders remain unknown and at large, and may well remain so. Hopefully, now that police are aware of the incident, they will perform random checks during their regular patrols.
Peter.
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Dear Peter,
Good, such protection at least prevents the most determined.
CCTV can be solar powered don't forget, and need not be as prohibitive in cost as you might presume p partic. if you have the local constab. on tow!
Again, you might be interested in knowing that the psychology of arson determines that in 90% of cases the perpetrators or perpetrator will return to see the fire and watch it, in 60% of cases the perpetrators are known to the affected. Unfortunately/or fortunately they will return to to see what happens after the event. To do what they did they have a grudge of some kind, for whatever reason - hence what I have said prev. - therefore it would be prudent to 'be prepared'.
Regards, Bernard
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Dear Peter
"...the lovely white sides scream "graffiti me" reminded me of an artist friend of my family. He was asked to paint a mural on a long retaining wall leading to the main door of his university.
Realising a) the plain wall and b) a conventional mural would be a target for graffiti artists, he painted a themed graffiti design - after at least 10 years, no additional unofficial graffiti to date.
Perhaps an artistic club member of friend to clad the inviting virgin white container with a suitable design of the graffiti-school with a suitable nautical theme.
The main thing, let's all trust the contents will be safe and sound .... no matter the external artistic endeavours
Bobdoc
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Sorry, folks, this Scot is still trying to type in English!
"Perhaps an artistic club member of friend to clad the inviting virgin white container with a suitable design of the graffiti-school with a suitable nautical theme" should read:
Perhaps an artistic club member or friend would be willing to clad the inviting virgin white container with a suitable design of the graffiti-school with a suitable nautical theme
Tricky things, those little words!
Ah, weel, back to typing school!
Bobdoc
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Why not take a leaf out of naval practice and dazzle paint it? That way they either won't see it at all or won't be able tell which direction it's in.
And it might give them a headache.....
Colin
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There is a product called "Anti-graffitti Paint" but I guess it will be expensive. How about rendering it with gravel (use a mix of colours). I know it could still be sprayed upon but it would not be possible to paint on it with a brush.
Roger in France
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i peter,
just read your post and we had a similar thing happen to our club house only we used to share it with a small cafe and the workers of the lake. youths broke in, destroyed everything and then burnt it down. There was absolutely nothing left. its a shame because there used to be small rowing boat's kept in there which were enjoyed by young children every year and it had all of our clubs accessories. Shortly after the fire the council put up portaloos up for everyone, but then exactly the same thing happened again, youths broke in, destroyed them completely until they were unusable. Now our club has no shelter and the nearest toilets are half a mile away >>:-(
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Pee-wee, congrat's on the new kit-out.
Regarding anti-burgulary measures, why not try an electrified cattle fence, connect the business end to the lock/handle/point of entry?
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Pee-wee, congrat's on the new kit-out.
Regarding anti-burgulary measures, why not try an electrified cattle fence, connect the business end to the lock/handle/point of entry?
WHAT??????? And risk hurting the poor little, misunderstood darlings!!!!
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Yes and when you wire it to the power instead of a 12volt supply............... <*< <*<
Roy
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Unfortunately even a cattle electric fencer is regarded as an infringement on civil liberties and human rights, and I would not advise doing this as you would have the little devils suing you! O0 >>:-(
However, you can get a very special paint like stuff (bit grease like), that stains their little hands, but the problem is it can get on you as well! >:-o So is a bit self defeating - and if a member of the public get's it on them by accident you could end up back at square one! <:(
There is no evidence as good as video evidence.
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the only problem with the CCTV is that the youths do it during the night and their all wearing hoods and hats so we dont see there faces {:-{
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Done that with high voltage low ampherage ,wired to my shed handle and the foot grate after i had disturbed visitors one evening .
Wired it up for the next night through a movement sensor so that they had to be in an area where they should not be .
It worked for me as the little angel got the shock of his life and never returned .
Oh and i tried it out for myself and it gave a good tickle , but i knew what to expect O0 .
daz
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You're probably right TT. If it was kids, and if by chance they were caught, they would most likely get nothing more than a slap on the wrist, and told not to do it again.
It still makes me mad though, and I can't imagine the mentality of people who would commit such a mindless and destructive act.
BRING BACK CORPORAL PUNISHMENT I SAY, AND GIVE THEM A GOOD FLOGGING. Have to catch them first, and anyway, flogging them would be an infringement of their "rights". Rant over.
Peter.
This is a terrible thing and it happens everywhere all the time. I am sad to admit this but i know people in their late 20s who do stuff like this when they get drunk/take drugs. We definately shouldnt be so quick to assume its youngsters.
What i really want to say is corporal punishment is DEFINATLY not the way to solve this problem. I do not argue/ rant about many things but i am hugelly against corporal punishment. If this was brought back into the UK system it would be a HUGE step back in civilisation. Look at countries such as Afghanistan where you can be burried up to your neck in the ground and stoned to death? Thats not civilisation. Thats one end of the scale. Obviously we are talking other end of the scale here, floggings, slaps on the wrists etc. We dont allow 15 year olds to watch violent movies but some individuals are happy to give them a good slap because they did somthing wrong? Isn't that some kind of a contradiction? EVERY single punishible crime in the UK works by "deterent" ie theres a consequence. Should crime, all crime that is not be tackled from the other side. PREVENTiON. Make people understand why things are wrong. Making people understand why its wrong, why they shouldnt do things such as vandalism. Punishment doesnt work because the wrong has already been done. Prevent the wrong from happening and then theres no need for punishment right? Prisons have been around for 300 years or so and they are the easiest place to get heroin in the country. Prison clearly doesnt work as people are in and out of them all their lives + it costs the tax payer a fortune. Im sorry to have gone off on a tangent but i believe there needs to be a huge amount of inovative thought put into crime prevention rather than all this talk of punishment.
A very smart man once said "no sane man believes in the british justice system"
I suffered corporal punishment as a youngster and all it did was make me defiant.
Back to the thread. You can make standard iso containers (which is what you have by the looks of it) bom proof just about it just costs a little more. I hope you get another murial painted on the container as your previous one was stunning. Vandalisim is a plague we will have to deal with for a long time. Be carefull when talking about CCTV though, sooner or later the UK is going to be a giant big brother.
My first rant on mayhem -
G
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"I suffered corporal punishment as a youngster..."
Ah, and there goes the crux of the matter.
Mr. G, do you mind if I bung a question your way?...
What eventually happened to whoever it was dishing-out that corporal punishment? Assuming that he/she is still alive, at what point did you finally look up and say, "Enough!"?
I don't mean to pry into your personals', but if he or she is indeed still alive, then why?
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Just a little on the CCTV idea.
I had some problems at my home where the badge's on my car were being stolen?
I reproted the crime's and each time got a crime number from PC plod. (fat lot of good that does when you have to pay an excess twice the cost of the badges)
So being as the local police had no joy in catching said criminals I installed CCTV to record anything and every thing that went on around my car (on MY drive way)
Reported the findings to the friendly policeman even showed the recording.
All very well even could make out who the youth was which is when I was told that it was not in my best interest to have recorded the person (a minor) I could face arrest, prosecution and further that as my wide angle camera could see onto the public pavement I was in breach of other laws... it was at that stage my mind went fuzzy
I could show that this youth was damaging MY property but I would not be able to use it in the courts because it was against HIS civil liberty etc etc
There is more to this story but I will not go into it as it caused me a lot of grief.
camera's are still there and we can but dont record.
R,
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Thanks, everyone, for all the replies.
Roger, the mural on the previous container was treated with "anti-graffiti" paint, which is simply a clear layer from which graffiti is easily removed using a special graffiti remover liquid. It prevents the graffiti from adhering to the paint of the mural. We did have a graffiti attack several months before the fire, and 2 of us had no trouble removing it inside 30 minutes.
I don't think the actual fire was purely arson, but an act of spite. I believe the offenders thought there were marketable items in the container, but when they realised that there was nothing of commercial value, they used the mower petrol stored inside to start the fire, out of pure frustration. We have a ride on mower, worth in excess of $1000, which they couldn't start because of a number of built in safety features, so they pushed it into our salt water lake instead. Had they left it in the container, it too would have been burnt. It has been refurbished, and is now working well.
Garabaldy, I grew up in an era when corporal punishment was the norm, and I don't think it has adversely affected me (others may have different ides :-) ). I'm not talking bashing, or causing bodily harm, merely a smack for a naughty child. As far as corporal punishment for perpetrators of crime goes, I was only joking, although, come to think of, perhaps it's not such a bad idea after all ;)
Peter.
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WhenALL PARENTS assume responsibility for the CHILDREN they brought into the world, then maybe, just maybe, we will have a safe and civilized world to live in.
kiwi
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WhenALL PARENTS assume responsibility for the CHILDREN they brought into the world, then maybe, just maybe, we will have a safe and civilized world to live in.
kiwi
Correct :-))
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Smack a two to four year old lightly to correct misbehavior and the world would be
a much better place, let the coppers kick youngsters in the backside and send them home,
give the teachers back the kane and the whole world would be a lot better of......
If there was to be any corporal punishment, it should be administrated to three
groups, protesters, do-gooders and political correctness............ <*< <*<
One can only hope
Roy
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i couldnt disagree with you more Roy. But everyones entitled to their own opinion. :-)
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i couldnt disagree with you more Roy. But everyones entitled to their own opinion. :-)
And this from a man who thinks that painting someones wall with graffitti should not be a crime!!!!I give up...
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i couldnt disagree with you more Roy. But everyones entitled to their own opinion. :-)
And this from a man who thinks that painting someones wall with graffitti should not be a crime!!!!I give up...
oh come on.... I never said that. Im just debating.
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An update to the saga of our destroyed storage container and its replacement.
It was always our intention to have a mural painted on the new container, but we were waiting on a contribution from the local council. They had agreed to give us $1000, to come out of the 2009 / 2010 grants money, to be paid on completion of the work. We had engaged a local artist, but he had to pull out for personal reasons, so we then had to find a substitute and, let me tell you, mural artists are not exactly plentiful. However, to cut a long story short, we eventually found one, Paul Paitson, and he has almost completed the work, which had to be paid for by the end of the 09/10 financial year. We are absolutely thrilled with the result, some photos of which are below, and the council has honoured its promise and given us the $1000.
The photos speak for themselves.
Peter.
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Peter,
Is that you in the blue shirt?
A beautiful job done for only a grand!! :-)) :-))
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Is that you in the blue shirt?
A beautiful job done for only a grand!! :-)) :-))
It could be, Barry %) , some of the club members say it is :-) although the artist is non-committal.
The mural actually cost $1500, but our club only had to pay $500, as the council paid the rest under their "Community Grants" scheme.
Peter.
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Is the pelican on 2.4ghz?
Colin
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{-) {-) It's free flight, I think :-)
When I was speaking to the artist, prior to him commencing the work, he said that he would include some birds, perhaps a pelican. I told him that I had never actually seen a pelican on the lake while we were sailing. About 2 minutes after my comment, one landed gracefully, giving the lie to my remark, so we both took photos, and it became a part of the mural.
Peter.
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Never under-estimate the fair sex gentleman .............' Hell hath no fury.' etc. Was this felon male??? :o Perhaps a member's disgruntled or lonely wife/partner or sweetheart felt driven to the edge of reason and despair <*< by her Romeo spending too much time on buoyant affairs %) and has flipped :o, causing mayhem in paradise?
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As regards assuming it was Young People ( I hate the expression Kids!!), a few years ago my son had a Model shop in Folkestone. On the Anniversary of D Day ( That is where we British had a Secondary Role to the Yanks) he made a large Diorama with many Models, some borrowed from local Clubs. He had Close circuit Video and next morning saw to his despair that the Shop window had been smashed and the models destroyed or stolen. When he ran the Video tapes for the Police, it wasn't a group of Young People, but three adults, between 40 and 50 years old, who came equipped with a sledge hammer, just to destroy the Display. Why may one ask? Being drunk is the normal excuse, but even so, why did they obviously plan the deed, get the heavy hammer and smash everything?
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. Why may one ask? Being drunk is the normal excuse, but even so, why did they obviously plan the deed, get the heavy hammer and smash everything?
Hazarding a guess, perhaps repressed feelings of envy and jealousy O0 <:(
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As an aside, some years ago, early 80's, was involved with strengthening/changing public telephones in Queensland, to make them vandal resistant.
The manufacturer, Japanese, was astounded and could not comprehend what was vandalism, >>:-( <*< as no such thing existed in Japan at the time. O0
Nowdays it is a different story. <:( <:( <:( <:(
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I seriously doubt the offenders were young people, as the force required to cut through the high tensile steel lock would have been considerable. More likely someone thinking that there were tools in the container and, on discovering model boat related items, set fire to the lot >>:-(
Peter.
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Just a little on the CCTV idea.
I could show that this youth was damaging MY property but I would not be able to use it in the courts because it was against HIS civil liberty etc etc
R,
It's not illegal to set up and use cctv on your own property and is not covered by the data protection act like buisnesses are, also you can film and photograph in a public place "pavement".
I took some photo's of some kids causing problems to some shops. They called the police and the police officer told me i had to delete them, which i did. Later i spoke to my brother who is a police sargeant and he told me the officer had no right to make me delete them and the order can only be made by a court as i took them in a public place even though it was from my garden, the subject was in a public place.
From the governments own web site
"Images of people are covered by the Data Protection Act, and so is information about people which is derived from images – for example, vehicle registration numbers. Most uses of CCTV by organisations or businesses will be covered by the Act, regardless of the number of cameras or how sophisticated the equipment is.
The Data Protection Act does not apply to individuals’ private or household purposes. So if you install a camera on your own home to protect it from burglary, the Act will not apply."