This one's just come up on my Facebook timeline.

Around £25,000 worth of model trains stolen from containers in Thong Lane, Gravesend

Bill

Wow, this is serious and no comments - do we care ?? Surely someone has lists of foreign clubs to notify such that it would be more difficult to 'fence' abroad.
BobH

Its all over facebook, pictures to boot. Unfortunately this was not the work of opportunists and they are probably on a slow boat to china already. Its a sad state of affairs.

Of course we all care. Reports such as latest one seem to be getting less frequent, probably because other clubs are taking more precautions and thus putting off would be burglars and because so much has gone before, its possibly getting harder to fence models. Tools are different, just take them along to the next boot sale.

If there are no or few ID marks and its a fellow model engineer, an engine could have its appearance changed either a different colour paint or simply change the logo from BR to GWR or vice versa.

Best that we can all do is probably to go and see any Speedy or Springbok type design for sale and see how well it matches photos of the stolen example, or not. If you think yes, go away and call local police.

From the clubhouse photo, it looks like no window protection. Need secure shutters to (a) block view of contents, (b) prevent entry. Maybe belt and braces; weld vertical 10mm steel bars to the inside of the windows, taking advantage of the steel construction. They could/should have an alarm which uses a sim card to auto dial the alarm company and a nominated member. Really good padlocks on the door and at least two preferably different makes or at least not with a common key.

John

As regards lists of foreign clubs, maybe this is an area that could be covered by SouthernFed, NAME, 7 1/4 Assoc,

2 1/2 Assoc etc. And share their joint knowledge.

John

As regards lists of foreign clubs, maybe this is an area that could be covered by The SMEE, SouthernFed, NAME,        7 1/4 Assoc, 2 1/2 Assoc etc. And share their joint knowledge.

John

Edited By DMB on 16/02/2019 21:48:59

The really unfortunate thing here is our gallant boys in blue are unlikely to attach any particular priority to their investigations if the theft of our track was anything to go by two years ago. All at CDMES send our thoughts and hope the perpetrators are brought to account. Incidents such as this have a big impact on those affected.

It's all very well commenting on precautions but that's not particularly helpful right now.

Paul.

The Police will give you a job number so you can claim insurance, then they can forget about it, until maybe some rainy day, when there is nothing to do.

Ian S C

Both my clubs circulated this to club members a couple of days ago. Good that modern communications are able to get the information around pretty fast.

Reminder to check new purchases' boiler certificate for authenticity and if none because incomplete still find out about the builder and check their club affiliations to establish some proof of the seller's veracity.

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Police are undermanned and being swamped with rising levels of crimes. No alternative but prioritise investigation of serious crime and issue an incident no. for low level stuff where victim needs to make insurance claim. The blame lies with MPs and their depts who have created funding cuts in every sphere including law and order.

It's a case of everyone look out for themselves. Review security and increase it.

Safeguard it or lose it.

John

Just thinking aloud,

With today's technologies there must be some kind of affordble GPS tracker that owners could attach to models.

...if not, I'll bet there are several forum members who could design and build such a device and have the project published in ME.

Ed.

Last thing you want is a published article on where to put a tracker, it will tell the theves where to look. Power for a tracker is a problem. Those in cars have internl batteriws kept charged from the main battery. Most steam models do not have a battery and generator. A hiding place where th antennas still operate is difficult on a metallic model. One thing every one should do is to to make a mark or number in a non-obvious place known only to you so the model can be identified if recovered. Don't forget to take photos of the marking.

Got a tracker built in the bodywork of our caravan, supplied as standard by the manufacturers, only problem is the battery, only got three to four years life and then you have a useless tracker. I stamp my National Insurance number in a few places on locos etc, better than postcodes because number is yours until you snuff it

I'm a member of GMMES, I was shocked to be told of this theft by a neighbour of mine today. Our clubhouse does have steel shutters on the outside, but the locomotives and tools were kept in separate shipping containers on the same site. Leaving aside the financial value, I can't imagine how the members must feel who've had items stolen that they've put countless hours of work into constructing.