my stolen Landy N792 WOF 13/02/09

The theft of my Landy almost drove me into clinical depression, the insurance company writhed like snakes to try to get out of paying, the CPS could have taken action against the guy who took it but they didn't, and to top it all my insurance has gone up mega bucks!!!
HOWEVER, yesterday totally out of the blue a letter came from the police informing me that they have my Landy (with a totally different reg no) it has been abandoned ! I got in the car and went to see "her"straight away. Strictly speaking she isnt mine now BUT I will do everything I can to get "her" back from the insurance company.The landy is a mess - it has the worst paint job ever, buckets seats, really terrible wheels and is very battered - according to the police its my Landy.( I do know its mine) . I honestly NEVER thought I would see her again but I never stopped looking for ways to find her.
I have a really nice TD5 outside but to be able to get my "old girl" back is just amazing.
I had her from new 15 years ago, I love my Landy like she is a member of my family, all being well she will be back with me soon. Dread to think how much it will cost to put her right but I will get her back to her former glory - eventually.
Landyzone was amazing - I had so much support and help from members, I felt I had to share the good news, for anyone who has had their landy stolen - dont give up hope.cheers everyone.

Result!! (ish) Nice one

WELL DONE MATE!
really pleased for you, maybe the filth aint quite so bad after all then .

Nice one Martyn.

When my 1997 110 was nicked I had the chance to buy it back from the insurance company for £800 (just to give you a ball park figure on what you might need to pay). The visible damage to mine wasn't too bad (both front seats burnt, dash melted, passenger door bent back, ignition cowl ripped off and steering lock sheared) but the hidden damage amounted to a new gearbox, transfer box rear prop and rear diff.

Make sure that you don't pay over the odds for it as it is now scrap value even though it means more to you than that.

ratty said:

Nice one Martyn.

When my 1997 110 was nicked I had the chance to buy it back from the insurance company for £800 (just to give you a ball park figure on what you might need to pay). The visible damage to mine wasn't too bad (both front seats burnt, dash melted, passenger door bent back, ignition cowl ripped off and steering lock sheared) but the hidden damage amounted to a new gearbox, transfer box rear prop and rear diff.

Make sure that you don't pay over the odds for it as it is now scrap value even though it means more to you than that.

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As you know I would have and still would give anything to get "her" back but thanks for the advice, I dont have a clue what the insurance will say as the letter only came yesterday so I havent been able to speak to the claims department. I really wouldnt have given this Landy a second look - its a mess so yes they probably will write it off, I know I can put it right/get it put right though. Cheers again Ratty !!

wheres they find it mart

Glad to hear from you martyn...good news in a way, hope things pick up from now on!!

oil dripper said:

wheres they find it mart

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Hi, dont know yet - the letter was sent by the recovery company on behalf of West Midland police recovery scheme. The Landy is with the recovery company in Rednal. The named officer is on holiday till 17th but they say they will try to find out more details by Monday. It was taxed in May in Stratford? Done an extra 2000 miles.
Will take some pictures of "her" when I get it back and post them on here.
Thank again mate.

:cheer2: so pleased for ya Martyn

That's brilliant news, but then again some absolute bastards have tarted it up and transformed it into a chav box. I'm sure you'll have the patience and the dedication to get it back into shape. It'd be really interesting to see pictures of the damage / what they've done to it etc.

There was someone fannying around in a car stopped right outside my house where my 90 was parked last night after 2 in the morning. They kept driving up and down the street and then slowing right down by my truck, so I woke my Dad up and said if it stops again we'll go out with a bar and the 1,000,000 candle power torch and whack them, but they vanished. No damage done. Seemed a bit odd though.

-Pos

have you got a battery kill switch pos? if not fit one pronto

I have got one but it's not fitted. They can still get an engine going without the help of my battery anyhow. It stays up the drive most of the time any way (that's where it will be tonight) with two other cars in front of it, so they'd need a crane to get it out! I'll keep my window open tonight to see if they come back. I think it's nothing to worry about, but still!

I suppose a good idea for theft prevention would be to create some kind of lockable blanking cover that you fit over the fuel solenoid on the injection pump. All you'd have to do is lift your bonnet up, pull the spade connector off and then apply the locking cover to stop the thieving bastards putting a live feed to it. I'll have a go at designing a solution. That's what I'm doing at uni anywho!

-pos

pos said:

I have got one but it's not fitted. They can still get an engine going without the help of my battery anyhow. It stays up the drive most of the time any way (that's where it will be tonight) with two other cars in front of it, so they'd need a crane to get it out! I'll keep my window open tonight to see if they come back. I think it's nothing to worry about, but still!

I suppose a good idea for theft prevention would be to create some kind of lockable blanking cover that you fit over the fuel solenoid on the injection pump. All you'd have to do is lift your bonnet up, pull the spade connector off and then apply the locking cover to stop the thieving bastards putting a live feed to it. I'll have a go at designing a solution. That's what I'm doing at uni anywho!

-pos

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clutchclaw is a good idea hard to drive away if the clutch and brake are locked in the up position

pos said:

That's brilliant news, but then again some absolute bastards have tarted it up and transformed it into a chav box. I'm sure you'll have the patience and the dedication to get it back into shape. It'd be really interesting to see pictures of the damage / what they've done to it etc.

There was someone fannying around in a car stopped right outside my house where my 90 was parked last night after 2 in the morning. They kept driving up and down the street and then slowing right down by my truck, so I woke my Dad up and said if it stops again we'll go out with a bar and the 1,000,000 candle power torch and whack them, but they vanished. No damage done. Seemed a bit odd though.

-Pos

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You couldn't have been more right - It does look like a "chav box" I didn't want to offend anyone by saying that ! It has been knocked about though but nothing that cant be put right I hope (not been able to check it out mechanically yet but I hope its okay)
You know just Friday 2 really suspicious looking guys walked past our house on the opposite side of the road then 5 mins later they walked back down on our side of the road. I would put money on the fact that they were looking at cars on drives. Where we live you have to be going somewhere Its not somewhere you stroll past if you get what I mean. I will put picture on as soon as I can. For my own sake I want to have evidence of what was done to my "girl" and I want to see her restored back to her original beauty asap.

cheers Martyn

Pos. You're assuming that your landy will be started and driven away. If you assume it will be towed rather than started you will better protect your landy.

buckshot said:

clutchclaw is a good idea hard to drive away if the clutch and brake are locked in the up position

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After my beloved landy was stolen I took down some of the 6ft fence to the side of the house and put in large wooden gates - I had to lay re enforced parking tiles in the lawn but the TD5 goes through there when I am not using it. I have 2 security lights with audible alarms too one at the front of the house one on the new parking area so it makes a noise if either of the lights comes on.
We have a secure covered chain on the drive entrance gate now and my wife parks her freelander in front of the side gates, I reverse my TD5 into the gate the other side so they cant be opened. As for my TD5 wherever I am I always use a clutch claw AND a steering lock and it does have an alarm. NOT THAT I'M PARANOID ABOUT HAVING MY CAR STOLEN AGAIN! !!!!! Only trouble is I will have to extend the secure parking area on the lawn when my "old girl" comes home - cant wait !!!!!!!!!
Martyn

My beloved landy was recovered by Thames Valley police last week after being stolen for two weeks. They too have transformed it into a 'chav box' by painting it bright green with gloss paint with paintbrushes and putting a big number 88 in the back window. Although there isn't any other damage it looks like it was intended to go banger racing. If you look at my other posts there are hideous pictures of it. I am waiting for my insurance co to assess and write off. I hope to buy back if they don't put a ridiculous salvage value on it. I will just have to gamble that it isn't mechanically stuffed.
I admit I cried when it had been found (I am a girl) as the two weeks it was missing were torture so I know how you were/are feeling. I too never expected to see it again but even if I don't get it back I am glad the scum who took it have lost it too.
Excellent news it has been found and I hope it all works out for you..

Tikkatoo said:

My beloved landy was recovered by Thames Valley police last week after being stolen for two weeks. They too have transformed it into a 'chav box' by painting it bright green with gloss paint with paintbrushes and putting a big number 88 in the back window. Although there isn't any other damage it looks like it was intended to go banger racing. If you look at my other posts there are hideous pictures of it. I am waiting for my insurance co to assess and write off. I hope to buy back if they don't put a ridiculous salvage value on it. I will just have to gamble that it isn't mechanically stuffed.
I admit I cried when it had been found (I am a girl) as the two weeks it was missing were torture so I know how you were/are feeling. I too never expected to see it again but even if I don't get it back I am glad the scum who took it have lost it too.
Excellent news it has been found and I hope it all works out for you..

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I cried too, and I'm a boy

pos said:

That's brilliant news, but then again some absolute bastards have tarted it up and transformed it into a chav box. I'm sure you'll have the patience and the dedication to get it back into shape. It'd be really interesting to see pictures of the damage / what they've done to it etc.

There was someone fannying around in a car stopped right outside my house where my 90 was parked last night after 2 in the morning. They kept driving up and down the street and then slowing right down by my truck, so I woke my Dad up and said if it stops again we'll go out with a bar and the 1,000,000 candle power torch and whack them, but they vanished. No damage done. Seemed a bit odd though.

-Pos

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Did you get there no. plate?

I would report that sort of activity to the police. They will take your call, ask you why you suspect it (make some stuff up to make it sound a little worse and that they were scoping it out).

They will run the plates just to see if anything comes up, and if something does come up (like they suspect that reg no. is dodgy or been involved in crimes) they will talk to you about it.

I did that with a break in once, I had an idea and gave the police a reg no. within an hour they called me back and said tell us EXACTLY what you saw and why you suspected it. The plates were on some sort of list you see.

Never hurts.

I once saw a Disco being driven away with wires coming out of the bonnet and into the cab, that was very weird looking and I told the police about it (almost like a spotter in case it was reported stolen).