Well, story is that, I bought an astra sri turbo recely quite cheapy cos it needs a wiring loom fitted. Well I hired out a freight container about 3weeks ago to put the car into while it wasnt being worked on, but the mechanic next door wouldnt move his cars out of the way so I could put mine in. I asked him once and got a reply of. "not today", so I gave him a chance, then a week later he'd done nothing, so I went to the land owner, he asked and still this guy did nothing. So, last night I went to see if he still did nothing and he hadnt, but I looked at my car and the bumper had been stolen. Now this isint just any bumper from an astra. It's a £400 quid sri turbo bumper, and the fogs are gone too! Do I go to the police about the theift? So far I have got my car moved to a garage until monday. I also went to the land owner last night and he said that he would call him. He tried to, but the was no reply. So basically, thismorning I was so angry and went down to see the guy, but he wasnt there. I can't see myself getting the bumper back, btu I feel I deserve some justice. Any ideas on the best thing to do? thanks, Gareth
Yes go to the police. The mechanic next door needs a talking to, if you know what I mean, what a cock.
The mechanic next door needs his car's bumper stealing. There's obviously a crime spree in the area...
So what kind of mechanic is he? Does he specialise in a certain type e.g. performance enhancement and bodywork. I'm not trying to insinuate anything but common, we're all thinking it.
Well if it was at the mechanics and they had the key to the car for repair THEY are liable for ALL damages accumulated while they are in control of your car. If they refuse to pay go to the police and they will make sure he pays.
No we as a community need to all travel down there and park are cars in the way of his trade, sit in them and refuse to move until either the bump appears by magic or he allows you access to your container. Oh and inorder to remove the bump he may have left some finger prints under the car, so the police should be able to help out.
Sounds like the time when some thiefs stole my mams front and back windscreens from her fiesta, nothing else just them, just remember thinking that dosnt look right when I first saw it after taking the dog out on the morning.
I heard a similar story about a jensen interceptor, back window was removed and the thief left an apology letter on the dash board with an IOU for £1500 which if i remember right was the cost of a brand new screen. One of those, 'you checky C*NT, but dang you must have needed it bad!'
Knowing him, he probably knew exactly what the bumpers worth, and was blocking the unit on purpose so his mate could steal it.
Thanks all you guys for the support. It's much appreciated. There really is a great community here! So that helps me feel a bit better about it. Well I've sourced a secondhand bumper which is great for £200 quid. The car is garaged and tonight after work I went down and check and the guy has moved his cars. Next thing would be to get the police involved. The thing is everyone here has been telling me not to as the police arent good for much up here in my experience. But yea I really want them to do something. The funny thing is I had to break into my work car last week cos I'd locked the keys in and only managed to fit the new window as the snow was starting! There's plenty of other stuff happened, but I'll not even start with that. I'll let everyone know how this gets on. I was up early thismorning to look round that guys garage for any clues about the bumper, but nothg and to be honest I dont have reason to trust him. I think he'd take a chance on my bumper tbh, but yea I can't accuse him of it, but I do hold him responsible. You live and you learn I guess!
I imagin if he had it, he sold it on quick, a supply and demand thing. Best check the rest of the car to see if anything else is missing. As it sounds like someone doing an accident repair so other little bits may have been required.
I'd be expecting him to cough up the cost of the bumper since its his fault that your car wasn't secured. At the very least he should compensate you for the cost of the container hire for the days you couldn't get into your container. Give him the option to pay and if he doesn't, take him to the small claims court. Its clear that its entirely his fault that this happened and he should be made to compensate you.
If you're that annoyed about it , suspect the mechanic and have no faith in the police you could always carry out your own investigation. Install the new bumper on the car and leave it where it was....but also install a portable cctv system in the car, pointed at the front. I'd image it could take atleast a few minutes to remove a bumper, so you'll have plenty of footage. ...or another stolen bumper ...and portable cctv system ...nevermind.
Get the police involved, whatever you do speak to them early. Taking it into your own hands could possibly turn against you in the future if it gets taken further. But yes, get the police involved but try and sort it yourself.
So why did you need the container in the first place? You can always manually lock the car, so what's the point of the container? So even if the car was safely in the container for 3 weeks, what then? The bumper can still be easily stolen after the 3 weeks. Anyone can be sleeping and not hear the small sounds made of someone unscrewing a bumper from a car. The mechanic can be blamed for being an annoying ass however, and if he's parking on your property or body corporate managed property, then the offending cars can be fined and/or towed away.
The car has no electrics, so I have no way of locking it. It has no keyholes either, it;s only got remote locking & I would never want to leave a sporty car in a yard thats miles away from my own home & with the car just sitting out like that the brake discs had totally rusted also. Beleive me, you wouldnt leave your own car in that yard. I'm actually suprised they only had the bumper. So yea, the container is very imortant in an unsecured yard like that. Gypsies come down all the time ans slash tyres and rob stuff. Sure even the family living there was robbed.
Ah, i didn't expect that there wouldn't be a mechanical lock on the driver's door. So all the gypsies and the yard from hell bring me to my next question. Why leave the car there? Dirt cheap repair yard? So if this yard is the property of the dirt cheap mechanic, and the mechanic had taken responsibility of your car, had the keys, then just as Airchie said, it's the mechanic's problem. He has to pay for the full repair costs to any damage incurred whilst the car is in his possesion, so there would be no need to hire a container! This all sounds weird to me. Unless there was a waiver or some sort of conditions that you signed when you handed your car over to him? I'm now guessing that there was and that you knew about it, hence the reason for the container hire.
