Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
We went up and had a very successful work day on the Western Heights where we continued to tidy the North Lines Ditch and to give the Grand Shaft Guardroom a spruce up.
Sadly have had a break-in at some point in the last week (by someone who appears to have the key to some of our internal locks) where several hundred pounds worth of tools were stolen including a couple of brushcutters (Echo and Flymo), a 'suitcase' generator and a number of smaller tools.
Of anyone had seen or heard anything. or see any of the items for sale locally please let us and Dover Police know.
Another upsetting event which really knocks the enthusiam of our volunteers
Been nice knowing you :)
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,707
That is so awful - these people will nick anything not chained down and often even if it is.
I hope they get caught, unfortunately this doesnt mean you get your tools etc back
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
so yet again we have to pay for this equipment
i sit in the ditch every open weekend and some little bleeders break in .. and with keys??
and we have to pay for new locks as well?
grrrr....
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
what a shocker for the volunteers!!
if keys were used surely it can be traced back who has copies?
i cannot believe a casual tea leaf would target the drop redoubt, most people would expect to find nothing inside.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Well it seems someone has decided to do some gardening, Paul!
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
So So Sad, And they had keys as well. Sounds like an inside job Paul, how many key holders have you got?
Change the locks, cut down on key holders and have a word with some nice people you may know
to have patrols through the week, particulary the week ends.
It aint gonna be easy mate but all the time it's left unmanned, the more problems your gonna have. ( fact )
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
Yes, "inside job" is the first thing that springs to mind. However, what level of locks did you have Paul? Basically, anything less than fifteen quid can be easily opened. It really pays to invest in something really secure.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
i know some really nice dogs with sharp teeth... i mean..
Such a shame to read this must be a huge blow for all involved but i do agree more security needed jen has the right idea
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
The sally port door we (and the public) go in through was secure as only we use that lock, but they scaled the wall presumably with ladders and lowered the equipment out that way
They key is one that is used in some areas outside the Drop Redoubt so not an inside jobs, but just means that we will have to do a complete replacements of many locks and keys which is just further cost as they aren't cheap locks
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
So sorry to hear that Paul, really makes my blood boil.
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
fuming... soo annoyed... infact... i need to go have a quick lie down
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
Heavy duty siren locks paul can be bought at Aldies. about 8 sqiud I think and very very loud. It scares the s**t out of me if I forget to de alarm it.
Iv'e had one on my work shop in the back garden for the last 2 yrs.
All you have to do is pick the lock up or move it and off it goes.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
There are some real scumbags out there.
It might be worth checking the local papers to see if there are new jobbing gardeners or handymen around.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Makes you spit (and swear) doesn't it ?
Can't believe that all the work you and the others do Paul and some toe-rag breaks in and steals the tools/equipment.
How did they know there were tools in there ?
Ian's padlocks sound good, but would anyone hear if they went off - as you said Ian, it might make them scarper though.
So sorry to hear this Paul - by the way, what was the view of Richard's work at the entrance ?
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
two interesting points from roger here.
firstly there is nothing about the drop redoubt to suggest that there is anything valuable and nickable inside.
secondly the alarm would have to register at the nearest police station, nobody would be near enough otherwise.
this would then mean that the constabulary was serious about heritage crime.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Power supply is the biggest issue as there is no mains electricity. They probably know from the work we do and our events as it is all well publicised
They'll probably flog them for peanuts if they sell them which is the most annoying bit as those few ££ will stop us doing loads of work.
I am sure the police and English Heritage will be interested in looking into it following the recent Heritage Crimes Initiative that was launched countrywide from the Heights.
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
Howard, you aint heard these alarms, when I set it off by mistake it scares the c*** out of me.
Away from public as the fort is and in the dark, if one of these buggers went off I would not be hanging around, worth checking out.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Jan, I have a garden job going Tuesday, it's just a job really, jobbing gardening, and I'll be using a spade.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
It really is absolutely gutting when you think of all the hard work the volunteers do to open the place up twice a year. As I'm sure you all know the door takings and gift-aid donations are simply put back into the society and are mainly spent on cutting equipment and publicity. Replacing the loss of £7-800 of equipment has just nullified a full Open Day. It makes you wonder why anyone bothers...even in the seemingly inoffensive apolitical world of history, education and re-enactment sadly it seems that there is a pathetic individual or two out there with an axe to grind and sabotage it.
Still, the police are treating this very seriously and an investigation is underway. This comes under the new Heritage Crimes Initiative, recently signed off between the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Crown Prosecution Service and English Heritage (who own the Drop Redoubt).
Still, these sh*ts won't put us off, we'll still have a good Open Day in June - I hope you'll all come and show your support!