theft from vehicles at Stoney

[cgsac]

Thought people might appreciate this warning (off a rival dive website, hope the author does not mind.)



.............Just a quick note to say whilst at Stoney last sunday our van was broken into whilst parked in the top car pick (under bridge) luckily no dive kit was taken as it was all in use at the time.We had some bags containing wallets,mobiles and sunglasses nicked.
On reflection it was v careless to leave this stuff in the vehicle,but it was a long weekend as our group was completing a BSAC Advanced Nitrox Course.
The instructors must have felt sorry for us,as we all managed to pass the course after a series of eventful dives...
Anyway please be careful with your valuables in the future.
Regards,Marc


...........

[Martin Davies]

This seems to be happening more and more.

We had a similar thing happen a few of months ago - one of our group's car was broken into and wallet, bags, mobiles stolen.

Has anyone else had similar?

Perhaps Stoney should ensure that there is someone on car park patrol whilst they have punters in the car park?

Martin

[Peter Sullivan]

They won't spend money patrolling the car park, they can't even get the toilets to work.

This seems to be happening more and more.

We had a similar thing happen a few of months ago - one of our group's car was broken into and wallet, bags, mobiles stolen.

Has anyone else had similar?

Perhaps Stoney should ensure that there is someone on car park patrol whilst they have punters in the car park?

Martin

[Taff Griffiths]

I personally have had no problems at Stoney but I have heard several people complain of thefts from there.

If these instances of theft are on the increase I do believe that the Staff at Stoney have a duty to increase security at their site.

If they do not improve security I believe that other divers and myself will unfortunately vote with our feet and go somewhere else. This will not be ideal, but living in the Bedford area I have a choice of two other inland dive sites where I can take my trainees to, others may not!

It would be a shame as Stoney is a very good facility but if they do not stamp on it now, in my opinion these theives will see it as an easy target and divers will not want to dive there.


Taff

[Adrian Kelland]

I personally have had no problems at Stoney but I have heard several people complain of thefts from there.

If these instances of theft are on the increase I do believe that the Staff at Stoney have a duty to increase security at their site.

If they do not improve security I believe that other divers and myself will unfortunately vote with our feet and go somewhere else. This will not be ideal, but living in the Bedford area I have a choice of two other inland dive sites where I can take my trainees to, others may not!

It would be a shame as Stoney is a very good facility but if they do not stamp on it now, in my opinion these theives will see it as an easy target and divers will not want to dive there.


Taff
They probably don't have a duty to provide security for you r car. Think about disclaimers in car parks etc.

However if people stay away because of security fears, then they might do something about it. The problem will come down to cost. The cost of security guards wandering around will have to be met by the paying customers.

Adrian

[Taff Griffiths]

:=I personally have had no problems at Stoney but I have heard several people complain of thefts from there.
:=
:=If these instances of theft are on the increase I do believe that the Staff at Stoney have a duty to increase security at their site.
:=
:=If they do not improve security I believe that other divers and myself will unfortunately vote with our feet and go somewhere else. This will not be ideal, but living in the Bedford area I have a choice of two other inland dive sites where I can take my trainees to, others may not!
:=
:=It would be a shame as Stoney is a very good facility but if they do not stamp on it now, in my opinion these theives will see it as an easy target and divers will not want to dive there.
:=
:=
:=Taff
They probably don't have a duty to provide security for you r car. Think about disclaimers in car parks etc.

However if people stay away because of security fears, then they might do something about it. The problem will come down to cost. The cost of security guards wandering around will have to be met by the paying customers.

Adrian

Sad but true.

Taff

[janos]

Also sad but true is that nothing is likely to be done in the forseeable future. Stoney isn't having much of a problem getting people through the doors at the moment, and a few people staying away won't affect them financially.

Janos

[nick kay]

However, how much of a "regular occurence" does it need to become before the term "negligence" could be used?

[David Walker]

However, how much of a "regular occurence" does it need to become before the term "negligence" could be used?

Its hardly Stoney's fault is it? Its not like they are inviting the criminals in. Yes its their car park, but criminals only go to that car park because they know its full of divers who leave all their valuables in the car while they go diving. If Stoney do suffer increasingly from break-ins then they may act to protect their reputation, but they're not erally obliged to - you might find that they just close the top car parks and leave you to park out in the road instead! Would that be better?

To be honest, with the amount of people who are coming and going all day i'm surprised that anyone does manage to break in without being seen, but i'm far happier that their staff are down near the water to help with any problems rather than wondering around a car park all day.

Ultimately, its not Stoney's fault - employing a security guard would add to the price, and CCTV is unlikely in the short term in what is essentially wasteland used for parking. Just hide your valuables, make sure you secure your car, get an alarm, or whatever.

I do sympathise with those who have suffered, but I blame the criminals, not Stoney, just as I don't blame Asda if someone breaks into a car in their car park, and how I don't blame the council if someone breaks into my house. Blame the thieving scum who took the stuff!

Alternatively, to avoid problems, get up early and get in the bottom car park :O)

David

[Simon Small]

A decent fence around the top car park would certainly help a bit.

Simon

[David Walker]

A decent fence around the top car park would certainly help a bit.

Yeah, possibly - although to be effective you need an 6-8ft steel fence with pointy bits along the top, which probably wouldn't go down well with the yokels who have to look at it every day. Anything less and they could jump over in a matter of seconds.
I suppose a portable / temporary camera may help, since I expect its most likely to be someone fairly local who keeps coming back - catch them once and it might stop?

David

[pinga]

:=A decent fence around the top car park would certainly help a bit.

Wouldn't just providing lockers e.g. in the shop so there's always someone about making it hard to break in help? They'd only need to be big enough for phone, wallet, car keys. AS long as you don't lose the locker keys, should be safe.

[Lindsey Doyle]

I remember a while ago when I went once & had to park in that car park under bridge, there was a lad warning us to hide valuables & that he was "on guard" there that day due to recent thefts.
So, if they responded then, why have they stopped?
(NB, he did actually work there, before someone asks!)
Lindsey.

[Ben Field]

I suspect Stoney would say its not their problem, until as people have suggested people start not going their.... however some divers seem happy to put up with Stoney's inflated prices, dreadful toilets, dirty pot hole ridden car parks, crowds and having to drive to the midlands... Maybe they'll happily put up with crime too?

Secondly, I hate to suggest this but we should be realistic- chances are even that it was another diver that broke into your clubs van, their are plenty of them milling about and their far less likely to be questioned by anyone if they have a drysuit on.

Having said all that, I can only think of one divesite where your car is probably safe from being broken into- Horsea Island. I'd wager the number of car theives willing to see the scary end of an SA80 leveled at them as they try to sneak out would be rather low :)

Joke- At least you where at Stoney doing a course... if you'd gone their "for fun" I'd say you deserve having your car broken into!

[Kev walsh]

I had my van broken into last year , and rang to see if they had cctv . It was being installed the following week ! But if you look at the site now only the entrances are covered. Not the car parks.