Hal_Chase
13 years ago
This is happening all over the country on different levels (stuff 'vanishing') and seems to be getting worse.

Some ends up on eBay like this and some gets hoarded by 'collectors'.

I do so hate the world of today 😞
All I want for Christmas is an Eimco...
ICLOK
  • ICLOK
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  • Newbie
13 years ago
OK but this is going to be incredibly hard to prove he stole it.... and thid just might pee the owners off... do we want this on the scope?
I have met at least 4 people with stuff off their inc 1 guy who took a weigh bridge balance and uses it as a plant pot holder!!!!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!
RJV
  • RJV
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  • Newbie
13 years ago
Surely not a modern problem though in the large, there isn't that much left to take? Seems to me that most places were thoroughly harvested by collectors long before the days of the internet.
JohnnearCfon
13 years ago
I have spoken to First Hydro, Dinorwig. When he looked at eBay whilst I was on the phone. He burst out laughing when he got to the bit in the description "collected from Dinorwig"! We had quite a chat about this and other thefts.

He went on to discuss how thefts are a problem for them. He gave me two recent examples.

1) Someone broke a chain and padlock off one of the gates, obviously to get things out.

2) A pile of "scrap metal" all brought together in one place. Obviously intended to be got out for scrap.

I think in the case of Dinorwic Quarry, scrap merchants are more likely to be a problem than say, Wrysgan and other difficult to access/little to be gained quarries/mines.
sinker
  • sinker
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13 years ago
Johnnearcfon I think it's good that you are making the effort to report it and take it seriously.
Let's be honest if it isn't one person it will be another, and yes all the really collectable stuff HAS been "harvested" years ago, and yes it probably WILL rust away if left where it is and yes it is probably ultimately an up hill struggle (no pun intended...) to stop this kind of thing from happening......
But if WE don't stand up and speak, then who will? It's too late when every last nut, bolt, nail and washer has either been weighed in or sold on eBay as "an historical artefact"!

Incidentally, I also got the same reply as you from eBay, basically saying "It's a serious allegation and it must be made by the Police before we take it seriously, we won't just take your word for it."

Any further developments from Plod? Any feedback?
Yma O Hyd....
Alec
  • Alec
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  • Newbie
13 years ago
Not a hijack of the thread- which is timely, and congratulations to those who are taking action - but just a reminder, if I may. We reported the theft, about 18 months ago, of one of the last extant stone milestones on the Liskeard and Caradon Railway - it was the 8 mile marker.

It hasn't surfaced yet, but if anyone does see it for sale, or in a place it shouldn't be, please could you let the Caradon Hill Area Heritage Project folk know, or contact Liskeard Police direct? They were alerted to the theft.
Regards, Alec
ICLOK
  • ICLOK
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  • Newbie
13 years ago
Still looking for your 8 mile marker......... on the list....

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!
JohnnearCfon
13 years ago
Well, I can hardly talk now - been on the phone earlier for 3 hours, mainly to do with this directly or indirectly.

As far as the Dinorwic items are concerned. The police (Llanberis) advised me this afternoon that the issue had been "resolved between the property owner (i. e. FH) and the eBay seller".

The police suggested the gentleman I had spoken to just after lunch should contact the eBay seller directly. This he did and subsequently received an email from him.

I have to say, I am not impressed myself with the email he received (he forwarded it and his reply to me). He attempted to justify it by saying they were all collected years ago and were gathering dust in his shed. He also says "I certainly never expected the 'reaction' I have had from certain EBAY surfers!!"

The policeman then attempted to brush over the other two items I mentioned. I was not going to let him do that!

At first he wanted me to find out who the owner of Wrysgan was! I said I thought it was a farmer and suggested the police local knowledge in Blaenau would be far better able to answer that question than I would!

The result (briefly) is that he is going to get that part of the incident report passed on to the police at Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Regarding the wagon parts from Maen offeren. As I am not the owner of that I cannot press for further investigatiopn to be done on that. I have agreed to contact Andrew Roberts regarding this.
AndyC
  • AndyC
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  • Newbie
13 years ago
Well - all I can say is I am sure many, like me, appreciate your hard work.
Been injured while at work and are not to blame?

Get over it.
hymac580c
13 years ago
Da iawn John :thumbsup:
Bellach dim ond swn y gwynt yn chwibian, lle bu gynt yr engan ar cynion yn tincian.
ttxela
  • ttxela
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  • Newbie
13 years ago
Yes, many thanks :thumbup:
sinker
  • sinker
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
13 years ago
Johnnearcfon, I have sent you a PM....
Yma O Hyd....
ChrisJC
13 years ago
Let us hope that all the good people on this forum don't have any artefacts in their personal collections that have been purloined without the owners permission........

In fact, let us hope they don't have any personal collections! :devil:

Chris.
JohnnearCfon
13 years ago
One update. I got a phone call quite late last evening from a police officer in Blaenau.

He took details of the item that was removed from Wrysgan I also described how the Maen Offeren wagon was moved, cut up, and parts stolen over a couple of nights.

On the Wrysgan item we had quite a protracted conversation that never really got that far. Basically, to cut it short, he asked, was I the owner? How do I know it has been stolen? Could the owner not have moved it somewhere himself, or legitimatly sold it? I had already explained it's difficult access position, and that someone had been up a couple of days ago to check it hadn't been thrown down the mountain somewhere.

Eventually (he must have finally realised I wasn't going to be brushed off quite that easily), he agreed they would try and identify the owner and contact him. The officer then said "If we don't find him we may not tell you, or if we do find him and it has not been stolen, we cannot tell you due to the Data Protection Act". He did agree to contact me and tell me if any progress was made. I will not be holding my breath!! I did suggest he gave the owner my name and number so he could contact me if he wanted to.

On my suggestion that it might be the same group who stole the wagon from Maen Offeren due to the planning and man power required for both jobs, he more or less said you might think you are right but you might not be!

Overall I was not impressed, not that I really expected to be!
Vanoord
13 years ago
I'd almost be tempted to ask how the 'Data Protection Act' covers telling you whether or not a farmer has moved various objects.

The Act does not prevent people from passing on that sort of information, only to them passing on details which would enable you to identify the farmer or whether he is a member of a trade union etc. (!).


Hello again darkness, my old friend...
AR
  • AR
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
13 years ago
"We can't tell you that because of Data Protection laws" is pretty much like "You can't do that because of health & safety", an excuse for inaction. :guns:
Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!
JohnnearCfon
13 years ago
As a postscript to the Dinorwic items. He has relisted the two that didn't sell. He has omitted to add that he has permission to sell them from FH.

Anyone who didn't contact him before, want to email him on eBay?

I will do shortly (as I went the other route before).
JohnnearCfon
13 years ago
I thought people might be interested in the arrogant reply from Brain-dead of Penmaenmawr, received as a result of simply mentioning the NAMHO and their guidance (you know Take only photographs etc):

My friend, I have more of a vested interest in the slate quarries as a rock climber and visitor than you will ever have! Thanks for the old school lecture but if I want advice I will ask for it. First Hydro have no issue with these items being removed or sold and IU have that in writing. I suggest if you feel that 'troubled' by all this you purchase them and then replace them 700' above the hillside yourself, to rot and rust away forever! Regards, JIM KELLY.
Vanoord
13 years ago
[mod]I've deleted a couple of posts which suggested activities that might not be considered lawful: if people could refrain from this sort of thing, it would be appreciated. Ta.[/mod]
Hello again darkness, my old friend...
Vanoord
13 years ago
"JohnnearCfon" wrote:

I thought people might be interested in the arrogant reply from Brain-dead of Penmaenmawr, received as a result of simply mentioning the NAMHO and their guidance (you know Take only photographs etc):

My friend, I have more of a vested interest in the slate quarries as a rock climber and visitor than you will ever have! Thanks for the old school lecture but if I want advice I will ask for it. First Hydro have no issue with these items being removed or sold and IU have that in writing. I suggest if you feel that 'troubled' by all this you purchase them and then replace them 700' above the hillside yourself, to rot and rust away forever! Regards, JIM KELLY.



First Hydro have given him permission to sell items that he stole from them?!

Strange, to say the least.
Hello again darkness, my old friend...

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