van jackers

[TheArtfulDogger]

A quick word to all van drivers, a friend of mine was 'van jacked' at the lights near the Rye Hotel Sunday afternoon, and it appears he wasn't the first.

If anyone points out that you have a problem with your van (or car) either drive somewhere where there are a lot of people around before gettting out to check it (or home) or if you do get out there and then, make sure you remove your keys from the ignition first.

He was okay, but more shaken up by someone being so cheeky and driving away.

Sgt Hurst - maybe one for you to look into as it was Peckham ?

[Kapt.Kopter]

I had a similar incident a couple of months back.

coming home from work at 2.45am driving down, Lyndhust way where the road narrows a car came at me at speed and blocked the road, the two occupants jumped out and ran at me, "get out of the f***ing van!"

I hit the central locking and one of them started punching the windscreen and drivers window with some kind of heavily re enforced glove. luckily I stayed calm and began to reverse at speed back up Lyndhurst with one of them hanging onto my wing mirror still trying to punch his way in.

at the first junction I lost my passenger (and mirror) and aimed for Peckham Road with the car chasing. luckily for me there was a police car double parked on Talford Place so I pulled along side and repeatedly sounded the horn.

I was fortunate that I spotted police car, because I have no doubt that if they'd have caught me i would have taken quite a beating.

the police were great, but they didn't catch the guys.

so all van drivers need to be weary if its the same two guys, it was truly terrifying and the level of aggression was hideous.

[ruffers]

TheArtfulDogger Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> A quick word to all van drivers, a friend of mine

> was 'van jacked' at the lights near the Rye Hotel

> Sunday afternoon, and it appears he wasn't the

> first.

>

> If anyone points out that you have a problem with

> your van (or car) either drive somewhere where

> there are a lot of people around before gettting

> out to check it (or home) or if you do get out

> there and then, make sure you remove your keys

> from the ignition first.

>

> He was okay, but more shaken up by someone being

> so cheeky and driving away.

>

> Sgt Hurst - maybe one for you to look into as it

> was Peckham ?

Surely they've made the police aware already rather than waiting for a friend to mention in on a neighbourhood forum?

[Loz]

Bloody hell, KK! Terrifying. Were you driving a van or a car?

[MissM]

There was at least one car jacking in Sydenham recently (March). A car was taken with a child in the back. Same thing happened with the car being flagged down as if there was a problem then someone jumping in when the lady got out to check. Just be aware...

http://sydenham.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=36051#36051

[Kapt.Kopter]

driving my van Loz...a deeply disturbing experience

[louisiana]

MissM Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> There was at least one car jacking in Sydenham

> recently (March). A car was taken with a child in

> the back. Same thing happened with the car being

> flagged down as if there was a problem then

> someone jumping in when the lady got out to check.

> Just be aware...

>

> http://sydenham.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=36051

> #36051

There were a couple more in Sydenham shortly before that too.

[dubluke]

Kapt.Kopter Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I had a similar incident a couple of months back.

> coming home from work at 2.45am driving down,

> Lyndhust way where the road narrows a car came at

> me at speed and blocked the road, the two

> occupants jumped out and ran at me, "get out of

> the f***ing van!"

> I hit the central locking and one of them started

> punching the windscreen and drivers window with

> some kind of heavily re enforced glove. luckily I

> stayed calm and began to reverse at speed back up

> Lyndhurst with one of them hanging onto my wing

> mirror still trying to punch his way in.

> at the first junction I lost my passenger (and

> mirror) and aimed for Peckham Road with the car

> chasing. luckily for me there was a police car

> double parked on Talford Place so I pulled along

> side and repeatedly sounded the horn.

> I was fortunate that I spotted police car, because

> I have no doubt that if they'd have caught me i

> would have taken quite a beating.

> the police were great, but they didn't catch the

> guys.

> so all van drivers need to be weary if its the

> same two guys, it was truly terrifying and the

> level of aggression was hideous.

jesus!! sounds like you had a lucky escape!

[Kapt.Kopter]

I did a defensive driving course a few years back when I worked at Wimbledon and I managed to keep calm, I think thats what saved me.

[ayresc]

what a bunch of conts.

the only thing you can do is of course lock your doors, but hat goes without saying, plus always know where the local police stations are!

[Strawbs]

I actually saw this (well the van running the lights and the poor guy running behind trying in vain to catch the van).. It was bl00dy awful.. My friend who had a bike went up to the guy who had managed to flag down a car to borrow a phone and he called the police there adn then, she gave some details and then they all went off together to find the van.. I really hope the guy is ok..

[Cassius]

KK - that does sound truely awful. My partner drives a van as do a few of my friends, I will make them aware of what happened to you. I know if must have been dreadful and I expect your attention was on getting away safely but do you have even a vauge description of them so that we can be aware if we see them.

[EDKiwi]

I read this earlier on today and then bumped into one of my workmates who works the night shift in the office this afternoon and found out he'd been van jacked in Forest Hill on Monday afternoon, same story, some guy told him his back door wasn't shut (he'd just loaded up with a load of spares for the night engineer team so thought it was likely), didn't take the keys out of the ignition, got out went around the back to check and they took off in the van.

Apart from a couple of laptops most of the stuff will be useless to anyone else as it's all specalised spare parts, still 50k worth tho :(

[lilolil]

Same thing happened to one of my hubby's friend's in Ivydale Road. The van was found round the back of an estate close by. I am not sure where exactly, but I think it was close to Ivydale. Someone spotted the van from a train window. It might be where they park the vans up!!!

[Kapt.Kopter]

one white guy, one black.

the white one was early 20's 5'9"ish skinny, wore a kind of mottled hoodie(suprise,suprise!) and the black guy was about 25/30, 6', stocky, short hair in litte twisty spikes and was the main attacker, the white guy was the driver of the car.

the police think the glove I discribed may have been a police issue riot glove!! re enforced kevlar knuckles and wrist support.

Cassius Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> KK - that does sound truely awful. My partner

> drives a van as do a few of my friends, I will

> make them aware of what happened to you. I know

> if must have been dreadful and I expect your

> attention was on getting away safely but do you

> have even a vauge description of them so that we

> can be aware if we see them.

[SteveT]

If anyone tries to wave you down and stands in the way of your vehicle, hit the accellerator and aim for him..........

Someone will eventually get lucky,

and the police will then be supplied with a full and accurate description of these ne'er-do-wells,

from either the ITU or pathology dept.:))

A fifty pound donation to the person who succeeds in ridding us of one or both of these menaces(tu)

[ImpetuousVrouw]

Woo ?50 for a possible life sentence - well worth it.

[SteveT]

That is the irony, in this country you can get in deep trouble defending yourself if you do it in the wrong way.

The ne'er-do-wells can do anything they like to you which seems okay to the law men, but only get knicked when caught in the act. Not enough is done to make them stop there evil ways even when they are caught.

I guess you became interested in the posting as one of the culprits is black, and you are looking for holes in the discussion as you were Chavwithalawdegree/legaleagle-ish/ImpetuousVrouw with a desperate need to challenge anything which may bring a black citizen to justice.

[ImpetuousVrouw]

That is the irony, in this country you can get in deep trouble defending yourself if you do it in the wrong way.

The ne'er-do-wells can do anything they like to you which seems okay to the law men, but only get knicked when caught in the act. Not enough is done to make them stop there evil ways even when they are caught.

I guess you became interested in the posting as one of the culprits is black, and you are looking for holes in the discussion as you were Chavwithalawdegree/legaleagle-ish/ImpetuousVrouw with a desperate need to challenge anything which may bring a black citizen to justice.

Ooo personal attacks of forumites now, that's just not cricket, but if you can't beat them, join them I say.

Life from the SteveT perspective seems to be a sad, bitter and poisonous existence, I almost feel sorry for you, but your extra bilious postings just manage to keep me on the straight and narrow.

[RosieH]

I guess you became interested in the posting as one of the culprits is black, and you are looking for holes in the discussion as you were Chavwithalawdegree/legaleagle-ish/ImpetuousVrouw with a desperate need to challenge anything which may bring a black citizen to justice.

Bloody ImpetuousVrouw, coming on here with her love of Stringer Bell / Luther and her no love of vigilantism, and her sense of justice for all, gah!

[kham]

OMG.. Just witness an incident last week in Surrey Quay while on school run,saw two guys racing to the parked van one jumped in the other one tried to pull him off, thought they were messing around. It turned out it was the driver trying to pull the mug off the van but he speed off withe the owner hanging on the door but eventually had to let go..

It was a horrible experience, hope the driver was alright..

[jimmy two times]

Here's me thinking this thread was going to be about the Dutch centre forward, Robin Van Jackers.

[ImpetuousVrouw]

It must be pretty scary for the drivers. I've heard of car drivers and even cyclists being mugged for their vehicles, but is the increase in van jacking a relatively new thing? Are they after the vehicle or it's cargo do you think?

[dubluke]

ImpetuousVrouw Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It must be pretty scary for the drivers. I've

> heard of car drivers and even cyclists being

> mugged for their vehicles, but is the increase in

> van jacking a relatively new thing? Are they

> after the vehicle or it's cargo do you think?

pretty sure it's mainly because of the cargo, if they were looking resale value of the vehicle I'm sure they'd be going for a higher price tag than ford transits etc. - but some standard tools and more specialised building equipment can be very valuable

[SteveT]

ImpetuousVrouw wrote:- Are they after the vehicle or it's cargo do you think?

What does that matter to the innocent victim, either way it is a dangerous and disturbing incident to happen to you.