Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: fatbelly on April 26, 2008, 17:43
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About a month ago I posted about vandalism on our plot and how these vandals had systematically smashed panes of glass in peoples greenhouses including mine.
Well last night they returned with a vengeance and smashed nearly every pane of glass in my 8 x 6 greenhouse. Not just mine others as well, people without greenhosues suffered as well because they uprooted plants and broke into sheds.
I am on a budget and can't afford to replace the glass and right now I feel like giving up and calling it a day. So sad because I was on the waiting list for over two years and it took me 8 months of hard work to turn my plot form a jungle to a decent weed free space.
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ooh, Fatbelly, I feel for you, you can't let the * win though. Don't give up please.
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fatbelly, I could write something trite, like 'don't let 'em win. Giving into them...., blah, blah, blah' but all I would say is take your time. I'm sure you'd regret giving it up - I know I would and I know I'd be as fed up, disenchanted, angry and everything else that I don't doubt you are now.
Hope you've got a couple of mates to sit you down with a pint and think things over. At times of stress I normally think that such people are like slinkies...., of no use whatsoever but the thought of pushing them downstairs always raises a smile.
Cheers,
Jim
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Thats awful :shock: after all your hard work :!: but don't give up or the vandals have won. Get onto your allotment site manager (at the town hall )and try to get some system in place to make it vandal proof. At our site we regularly had kids breaking greenhouse glass, breaking into sheds and once even setting fire to a shed, The council put up the hight of the fence and the troubles appear to be over. :D So get shouting and remember that your rent is for a safe site and it's the councils duty to try to make it safe
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I agree with jim there
dont make any hasty decisions, and see what can be done about security on the plot, maybe a night watchman with a pellet gun :-)
Hope things improve soon fb, Im sorry this happened to you sir
Paula
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And like Gud said get shouting at the people who run the site :evil:
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Aww I feel for you hun. I'm bracing myself for our sites first onslaught as the site was empty prior to this past 6 months intake due to same thing....just think about ways around it hun....glass - one hit n it's shattered...plastic? doesn't shatter...might split...tape cheaper for repairs?...i dunno hun....just think you'll regret giving it up that's all :) hugs
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Don't give up :x
We had this problem a few years ago, peservere
If you give up , they win.
Stand firm
Stand tall
You are above them
Nature is above all of us
Be sure to maintain the hiarachy
:)
Alex 98
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I totally understand how you feel. They're thoughtless morons whose petty crimes are unimportant to the authorities but make life a misery for ordinary people.
I hope you don't give up, perhaps you could set the greenhouse up at home? Perhaps you and your fellow plotholders could get publicity and shame the police / council into some security or a camera? Perhaps even a neighbourhood watch / rota scheme.
What a shame that mantraps, pungi stakes and razor wire would be a violation of their human rights.
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What a shame that mantraps, pungi stakes and razor wire would be a violation of their human rights.
How about rue, pyracantha and giant hogweed? :twisted:
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total pathetic morons who must lead such a sad life :evil:
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Forget pyracantha n stuff...sleeping bag n a pepper spray plus acold night in a shed ;))....with mates n a bottle of two of vino collapso ;P...frighten them into sub ;))
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Scum Bags! :cry:
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we all suffer from slug damage and caterpillar damage and we just take it as one of those things, these morons are just another pest that we cant seem to get rid of :cry: but with good neighbouring plotholders you will get going again. :D failing that ... shoot the b...tards :lol:
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Sorry you're having this many problems
Try this
All of you should report it individually to the police, make ysure you geta crime number cos it is a crime. This will force up the figures and when they go up the police have to take action as will the council youth nuisience department Write to the council asking for increased security copy the latter to your local councillor and ask him/ her to raise it at a council meeting The elected councillors can and will mither the daylights out of the department and keep on at them till something is done
Basically every opportunity make a nuisence of yourselves attend local council forums and ask awkward questions write to the local paper invite them down picture of the damage and a sympathetic article will help
Keep at them it will work in the end
Sorry if this sounds a bit of a rant we are getting similar issues on our site and the local councillors are taking action remember local elections soon
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whatever happened to the innocent games like "knock and run" to upset the oldies. :roll:
so sorry this has happened :cry:
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The idea of going to the police sounds good, as they will (eventually) have to take notice if the crime figures go up. Get other people to do the same. Personally I'd go down to the plot on spec after dark a few of times and maybe try and catch them at it, or get a vehicle registration. But wouldn't recommend this to an older person. On second thoughts, I AM an older person now...
Also, if money is tight, you could do temporary repairs using polythene sheeting perhaps?
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That used to happen on our plot. They broke in late 2006 and burnt down the allotment shop that was housed within an old railway carriage. The committee then spent 4k on metal fencing to keep them out. It seems to have done the trick so far.
Good luck getting something done.
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I have to admit this sort of thing has put me off getting a greenhouse on the allotment, I just 'make do' with a mini-greenhouse in the back yard and plant a lot of things direct into the soil. It's a shame, as I would like to grow tomatoes, chili's, peppers, aubergenes and melons but have no practical way of doing so.
I was also very keen on keeping some chickens, but again, the vandalism aspect has put me off :( No free range eggs for me. :(
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I am on a budget and can't afford to replace the glass and right now I feel like giving up and calling it a day. .
I am really sorry this has happened to you. We replaced the glass in our
green house with perspex, it was so much cheaper & flexible for the curved ones....
Don't give up...........your rewards will greater than the way you feel now.
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I agree, I am a serving Community Bobby in Cheshire and would be happy to take on these yobs on my patch the only problem is the public don't report the crimes as John suggests, so the police and pcso's aren't aware of the scale of the problem.
A letter to the head of the local community police depatment outlining the problem will help, as will an article in the local press.
Good luck
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I agree, I am a serving Community Bobby in Cheshire and would be happy to take on these yobs on my patch the only problem is the public don't report the crimes as John suggests, so the police and pcso's aren't aware of the scale of the problem.
A letter to the head of the local community police depatment outlining the problem will help, as will an article in the local press.
Good luck
I agree with Sir Growalot, every incident needs to be reported to the police so they can be appraised of the true nature of crimes in your area.
I also work for the police and used to manage a local team of community officers who had responsibility for a large allotment area. After a number of reports we sent out local patrols and took part in some covert work that eventually led to the culprits being caught.
If they don't know then they won't do anything about it. If a crime is reported and continues to occur you will get "repeat victim" status. This means that the local police management MUST take positive action to resolve the issue.
If you had your front window smashed by yobs you would report it so there should be no exceptions to any minor crime.
Get in touch with you local Neighbourhood Policing Team and discuss the problems you are having with them.
Don't suffer in silence and best of luck :)
Oh and John the authorities do care, I didn't join this job to watch people suffer.....
Oh and I remember knock and run, harmless fun but daring!!
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Give up the greenhouse?
Maybe you'll have more luck with your local police, but with mine its an effort to get a crime number after being shot at.
Not to be confrontational with our law enforcement members, it certainly isnt their fault, but if the police really do mount an operation, and you go to court as a witness against the thugs, they get told their very naughty and come back the next day to give your property special attention.
Or at least thats been my experience.
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Oh and John the authorities do care, I didn't join this job to watch people suffer.....
I'm sure there are many caring individuals in the police but they're tied in by systems that render them ineffective or at least appearing ineffective to the public.
I've the greatest of respect for the police as a body but they're hardly backed by the judiciary who the petty crooks laugh at.
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Hey FB, don't you give in there. You should see the damage they have done to mine over the last couple of years. They even picked all my strawberries and beans last year! Remember what goes around comes around. I've left my greenhouse on the floor. Mainly because I wouldn't know where to start to mend it but I now grow everything on at home then take down the established plants and hope for the best. Keep your chin up and remember they wont always get away with it. :wink:
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The idea of going to the police sounds good, as they will (eventually) have to take notice if the crime figures go up. Get other people to do the same. Personally I'd go down to the plot on spec after dark a few of times and maybe try and catch them at it, or get a vehicle registration. But wouldn't recommend this to an older person. On second thoughts, I AM an older person now...
not too sure that is a good idea...tackling some of these yobs is a dangerous thing to do...... :cry:
go to the council, make your voice heard, go to the papers.
talk to the council about higher fencing or even cctv cameras about the place. these yobs cannot win !!!
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Oh and John the authorities do care, I didn't join this job to watch people suffer.....
I'm sure there are many caring individuals in the police but they're tied in by systems that render them ineffective or at least appearing ineffective to the public.
I've the greatest of respect for the police as a body but they're hardly backed by the judiciary who the petty crooks laugh at.
John,
Im sorry to say that I am inclined to agree with you. Most of us on the ground do try our best but are often let down by our own call takers/prceedures and coupled with the fact that sentencing by the courts has gone barmy we also feel that our job is becoming bogged down by paperwork and policies most of which is directly defined by the Goverment.
Saying that Iv'e just reached my 15th year this month and I still truely strive to do my best for my people both in and out of the job. :)
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Illegitimi Non Carborundum
At least the forums getting well policed these days!
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Illegitimi Non Carborundum
I thought this was some kind of Italian cheese sauce until I googled it :lol:
Fatbelly, If I lived closer I would come to yours and sit in the shed and wait....... :x
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About a month ago I posted about vandalism on our plot and how these vandals had systematically smashed panes of glass in peoples greenhouses including mine.
Well last night they returned with a vengeance and smashed nearly every pane of glass in my 8 x 6 greenhouse. Not just mine others as well, people without greenhosues suffered as well because they uprooted plants and broke into sheds.
I am on a budget and can't afford to replace the glass and right now I feel like giving up and calling it a day. So sad because I was on the waiting list for over two years and it took me 8 months of hard work to turn my plot form a jungle to a decent weed free space.
Your allotment should have insurance it might be worth asking the secratary it may only be third party but should pay for the glass.
Jim
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I agree, I am a serving Community Bobby in Cheshire and would be happy to take on these yobs on my patch the only problem is the public don't report the crimes as John suggests, so the police and pcso's aren't aware of the scale of the problem.
A letter to the head of the local community police depatment outlining the problem will help, as will an article in the local press.
Good luck
As another officer, I entirely second this. Make a nuisance of yourselves and report everything.
And some of us do care about allotment vandalism ! It's just so hard to try and track down the little sh*ts responsible.
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As another officer, I entirely second this. Make a nuisance of yourselves and report everything.
And some of us do care about allotment vandalism ! It's just so hard to try and track down the little sh*ts responsible.
Well we've got photo's of the little bees at it!!! Yipppee. They live around the corner so shouldn't require CSI Crewe to track down. Being serious, a strong word from a policeman at this stage could prevent a multitude of problems in the future.
I do think a good scare in time can save a fistful of asbos later. Of course, it all depends on the parents attitude.
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So sorry to hear this Fatbelly, I can understand how this would bring you down but dont give up.
Maybe leave the greenhouse as it is until thing have been resolved?
I would make a real pest of myself (and anyone else that you can get to 'get involved') with the council, police etc.
If this doesnt work I have heard about people leaving 'litter' on site as well :shock: things like wire across paths and bits of old wood with nails through left outside sheds and greenhouses!
Allotment sites can be dangerous places in the dark :lol:
WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO?
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So sorry to hear this Fatbelly, I can understand how this would bring you down but dont give up.
Maybe leave the greenhouse as it is until thing have been resolved?
I would make a real pest of myself (and anyone else that you can get to 'get involved') with the council, police etc.
If this doesnt work I have heard about people leaving 'litter' on site as well :shock: things like wire across paths and bits of old wood with nails through left outside sheds and greenhouses!
Allotment sites can be dangerous places in the dark :lol:
WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO?
i hate litter but we can all be careless sometimes :wink:
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you have my sympathy Fatbelly
we had no end of problems (vandalism,theft) we all contacted our council independently, and made a pest (can't spell nuisance) of ourselves.
we now have security fencing all round the plot (look like a POW camp) and now plot holders are leaving tools out, and its a much nicer place to be .
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hmmmm its a pain in the butt scenario...... Happened a few years back round our way, but not our plot, turned out to be a couple of very young teenagers, and thats all it takes, its not a load of Vikings pillaging and looting, just a couple of scrots with nothing better to do...... Mind you if one of my lads when they were 12/13 was out very late at night I would want to know what they where up to, its all about parenting.......