STOLEN YELLOW 748: NORTH LONDON
 

J77DUC

Having only just recovered from some really bad personal/family problems, and after having saved for months to scrape together the money to buy my dream bike as a "pick me up", only 3 weeks after buying it, it was nicked from outside my house in Muswell Hill, N10 at 4am on Tues 12th April.

Words cannot express how angry, upset and bereaved I am feeling at the moment.....my 3 kids loved the bike as well (my 2 year old can already differentiate between "ordinary" bikes and most modern Ducatis ie: he knows class when he sees it) and they are all utterly heartbroken. My 5 year old burst out crying when I told him - although later on, he did make me laugh by saying that I should buy a bike like Valentino Rossi's next time!

The saddest thing is, is that after I've paid the balance of the premium, the excess, replaced all the chains/locks/alarms/cover that also went with the bike (some use all that lot turned out to be?), and paid the premium for the next bike, I won't be able to afford to replace it with another 748. I'll probably end up on an f***ing CB500 or something.

£500 reward. Full details and pics of the bike are on eBay at this link:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...e=STRK:MESE:IT

Any help in tracking it down, no matter how small would be gratefully accepted

[Edited on 14-4-2005 by zhed44]

Really sorry to hear :(

Thanks. You never know, it may turn up.....

I put some leaflets through doors in my local area and I got a call earlier from a woman who had this morning seen a yellow bike with a J in the number plate abandoned about half a mile away close to a busy junction. Unfortunately, she didn't have my number with her and could only call me when she got home. Needless to say, the bike was not there when I went to have a look. I called the police to see if they knew if the CCTV on the junction was able to pick up that area. Were they interested? Were they b****x. Suggested that I go and look at the cameras or ask my local council if they can provide me with the tape....Hang on a mo, isn't that their job???? So I asked the officer if she could remind what was the role of the police in society....and furthermore, why do I pay £1200 council tax each year, a portion of which goes to the Metropolitan Police? She was a bit stumped for a reply....mumbled something about resources, more serious crime to solve etc (no doubt that's what the 13 officers I counted recently pulling motorists over for vehicle census were doing)

The boys and girls in blue have been singularly disinterested in solving this crime (is theft still a crime?). Despite my DIY detective work having suceeded in unearthing descriptions of the suspects, their van, their clothing etc. Once again, have they f**k! I found out today that the fairly detailed descriptions I obtained whilst doing their job for them hadn't even been entered onto the crime report!

I had a Car nicked a few weeks back, as the theif had answered an ad in Autotrader I did 1471 and got a Mobile number. I made enquires with T-Mobile who told me it wa registerd to an address, but would tell me the address due to data protection. I told the Police what i had found out. They told me that there was nothing they could do as the phone may not have belonged to the Thief. Cause i have a number its not enough to just go round!!!! But it could have been his number. Where they interested? Where they Feck :mad:
Anyway Fingers Crossed your turns up.

As usual, the Police relying on Joe Public's ignorance of the law.....

From memory (can't be bothered to check my criminal law textbooks), by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 s.25, a constable can arrest any person on reasonable suspicion that they have committed an offence if that offence carries a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 5 years (which theft does - max sentence is 14 years i think). Even if they don't believe they have grounds to arrest the owner of the phone there and then, the fact that the call came from his phone should at least trigger a visit to the corresponding address in order to ask the occupant some questions, see if the ID of the suspect matches his description, or even just to see if the car is parked outside his house! DUH! Not exactly the stuff of Sherlock Holmes is it? If there are any lawyers/police officers on here, please feel free to correct me....

An awful lot of policemen I've some across confuse the amount and quality of evidence the CPS need to secure a conviction (a lot), with the amount and quality of evidence they need to arrest a suspect and/or search premises (not very much at all). The cynic in me would suggest that they know full well the difference, but use such excuses when they can't be a***d to investigate what could possibly turn out to be a wild goose chase....

£500 reward. Full details and pics of the bike are on eBay at this link:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...e=STRK:MESE:IT


[Edited on 14-4-2005 by zhed44]

[Edited on 15-4-2005 by zhed44]

LMAO. but just where would I fit it on a 748? From what I remember in the very short time I owned it, I could only just get a packet of fags under the seat.....:lol:

Sorry to hear about your bike, I have been in the same situation a number of times. Quite recently I had 2 cars stolen in 2 years and both times the police did not even come to see me, I had to go to the police station to make a statement both times which was a pain as the first time I was 100 miles from home and the second I was 30 miles away. On the first occasion my mobile was in the glove box and the thieves used it to make quite a few calls to the same 10 or so numbers which were all local to where the car was stolen. Were the police interested? Were they chuff! I did give the numbers to a few mates and we spent a few weeks ringing them at 3 and 4am and making a nuisance of ourselves pointless I know but made me feel better.

A year or so back I had an attempted break in at 3am and had 2 blokes cornered at the end of my patio (which is about 10 feet above ground level) they chose to jump over the railings to the ground below, unluckily just missing the edge of some steps and landing safely on the grass. I called the police and they phoned me back twice in 30 minutes asking for directions! The police station is half a mile away!! The following sunday I went for a ride on the 996 and sure enough on the way to devils bridge 4 or 5 of our finest officers stopping every bike for the usual checks I ended up with a fine for my termis!

I am not anti police but am disgusted at the way the force is run these days. The people who now seem to get the most attention and grief from the police are the very people who suffer the most crime against them. Whats going on?

Rant over. I hope you get somewhere with your bike and the thieving scum die horribly.

That trunk monkey is a cracking idea.

Good luck getting your bike back zhed. Glad you decided to post on here after our email, perhaps someone will know something. If not at least you'll get some moral support!

There's a couple of helpful constabulary who are Ducati riders and frequent this board - so you never know what will turn up.

Let's hope you get your bike back and can actually join the Ducati fold again.

Cheers
Phill

Just had a thought...

If any of you have the time, please print out the eBay info/pics (link is in the first thread at top of page) and ask any friendly bike shops to put it on their noticeboards, in their windows etc. Any other novel ideas for putting the word around would be gratefully accepted.

Thanks for the link to Visordown and just thanks generally for the moral support.

I will ride again!

Sorry to hear the news - same happened to me in January(also nth london) and similar story with the police - i am still seething that the scum are laughing at us 'cos it is a soft crime - why don't insurance companies set up a task force?? big business huh? There was a story in MCN awhile back about some ex SAS guys who will answer your call if you have a tracker - i like this idea alot!! I can't believe how pi££ed i was - you too i bet. One day someone will sort out a way of stopping it - supply and demand? not sure what happens to the stolen goods, but if you could make it impossible to sell then it would be not worth stealing.

keep positive - if you want another one - you know you can get it as you have done it once before.

I know it is consolation, but I have got 10 police officers standin round my bike at the moment!!! It is safe for the time being. they have been there for an hour. I just popped out to see if they were after the termigs.....apparently they had caught a couple of youths stealing!!!
You want to be in south london!!!

sorry for your loss btw, I know how you feel!!! Hope you get it back!!

Have put it onto the bike newsgroup so it should reach a good audience there too.

Good luck with getting sorted. It's only a motorbike and there are plenty more out there - it's what we all pay insurance for! Just hope that it had a failure of the brakes as the thief had someone pull out on them...

i know, but to me, it wasn't just a bike - it was the realisation of a dream and more importantly it was also a present to cheer myself up after suffering some really, really heavy s**t in my life.

the insurance may cover the price of a new bike, but it's a year's premium down the drain (£871 - due to a minor accident last year), the excess (£400) will be deducted from the settlement, i'll have to buy new locks and covers etc and also pay a new (increased) insurance premium. none of which i can really afford.

have you seen the amount of accessories that came with the bike? it was more or less exactly as i would have specced the bike if i'd started from scratch - once i'd got hold of a single seat unit, it would have been absolutely perfect. i think i'll be very lucky to find another bike of the same spec, in the same condition, with a full service history for the same price (£4k).

anyway, it's not just the money, as even if i can somehow afford to get another 748, i'm thinking that i shouldn't bother, because the same thieving scum will probably come back and nick that one as well. i've more or less been told by a number of people, and i've also had the same thoughts myself, "you can't own a bike like that and expect to hold on to it in london unless you have a garage". in other words, i should just buy a crappy runaround like my previous bike. i don't like having my choice of bike and therefore, my choice of pleasurable activity made for me by a bunch of thieving, parasitic, scumbag ratboys. would you?

also, not to mention the 6 - 8 weeks stuck in a car or on the bus whilst being overtaken by bikes...:(

[Edited on 15-4-2005 by zhed44]

sorry, that last post sounded like i was having a go. didn't mean to come across like that - just feeling very raw.

thanks for posting the info on the newsgroup.

so many people have emailed me with support, sympathy and advice. i'm really touched :)

£500 reward. Full details and pics of the bike are on eBay at this link:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...e=STRK:MESE:IT


[Edited on 15-4-2005 by zhed44]

same thoughts here about having my freedom taken away - but i decided not to bow down and...... this weekend will be taking ownership of a 1 owner 748 2002 model(yellow) to replace my old one. yes i am worried, but like you that mechanical thing represented more than just a means of transport or even an iconic bike - and i am not going to have that taken away. It is 3 and a half months now and it still touches a nerve - you (like me and loads of others) spent time/effort getting the bike set to our satisfaction - for me little things like taking all the panels off and going thru the wiring/connectors checking, tidying and tying up and spraying with silicone - just to know that it is as good as can be. There are alot of good people on this site who are commiserating - it is not the money in the end - it is the "violation" for want of a better word - and having someone dictate what you can and can't do/have. hope the insurance is not a hassle - mine was OK, if you need any info let me know.

yes, "violation" and "loss of freedom of choice" sum it up perfectly.

clouds and silver linings etc - i've had some of my faith in humanity restored by the support, sympathy, advice and encouragement i've received from you guys. THANKS :burn: if/when this is all sorted, and i'm mobile again i hope we can meet up one day for a beer and B-road blast at a ride out.

it's great that you're soon going to be on 2 wheels again. you must be raring to go! but i'm very jealous! hopefully that will be me in a month or 2.....

£500 reward. Full details and pics of the bike are on eBay at this link:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...e=STRK:MESE:IT


[Edited on 15-4-2005 by zhed44]

Zhed i totally feel for you m8, there cant possibly be a worse feeling in the world than your pride and joy being taken away from you.

Hope you find the ba$tards that stole it from you and chop theyre ball$ off, its what id do.

Might i also add there is no more satisfaction in the world than finding the folks that done my mate a bad turn once before, we set up a sting and camped a few nights waiting for them, took a few nights but they did turn up, only to be rushed by 6 of us, then bundled them into a van. the rest is history.

Rather gratifying feeling might i add.

i dont think they stole anything in my mates neighbourhood again.
take matters into your own hands, if you can that is.
/ian

Back to the top...

I read in the paper today (News of the Screws) that a guy in North London who had his Ducati stolen found the engine for sale on ebay and tipped off the police, which led to an arrest for burglary.

Is this the one and same? Would be a good result if it was.

nope, not me, but good on the guy for doing dibble's work for him as they sure aint gonna......

i recently had the local scumbag schizo-peeping tom-petty thief pay a nocturnal visit to my back garden (probably on his way to try to spy on my next door neighbour - she'd already found him at the bottom of her fire escape at 4am the week before....). anyway, while there, he stole the back wheel off my daughter's (only received 2 days before on her b'day) mountain bike. anyway, since the theft of my 748, i've upgraded my security and long story short, i got the whole thing on cctv and also his oily prints were all over the frame. eventually after i and my neighbour had harrassed the police for days, they sent a SOCO and then 2 constables to respectively take prints and view/collect the tape. the PCs immediately ID'd the guy (he'd only been out of prison for 6 weeks after being inside for 9 months for harrassment) and promised they'd be in touch re: getting a witness statement.......that was on the 20th july and i'm still waiting!

no wonder people take the law into there own hands. and this is a sad example. has the insurance paid out now the full amount??

the insurance paid out full amount (minus excess natch) - used some of the cash to buy a bandit (had a lot of fun on that bike and have streetfightered it a bit), some of the rest was spent on decent gear (new lid/leathers/boots), some on security (ramp to allow bike into back garden/security gate/quality chains and locks) and the rest i gave to my ex and my kids.

i've just very recently bought a 748 on finance. so now i have 2 bikes, loads of new gear, better security and a happy family.

smiles all round!

Tough break on the thefts zhed. Specially the little girls bike bits.
Get her to write a sweet letter to the soco/police/local paper/mp and really rub it in. You'll probably end up with Tony Blur coming round to decry the crime figures and bolster his ego.

Best of luck with it.

problem with that approach is that if i complain to tony B about how awful conditions are around here, i'm afraid he might decide that we need "liberating" and then after the cluster bombs start falling, i'll have no house, no bikes and no kids :(

good for you fella!!