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Bad week-end

Hello All,Just have to get this off my chest, as I can't believe my luck, or severe lack of it.Went to my local, big chain DIY store Saturday morning to pick up some stores for a large fence painting job starting Monday. I came out to see me rear doors open, upon inspection I found 2 hedge strimmers, a grass strimmer, all Stihl kit & 2 Hayters all gone. To add insult to injury when I ask the security guys for the cctv details they explained they didn't cover that area of the car park...I'm now seriously upset.Managed the work with my old faithful, a mountfield I opriginally started with, it did the jobs.Sunday morning I asked my lad to wash the van and fill up with water. That cost me a tenner. I then went to move the van, one loud pop, plooms of smoke from the exhaust and engines dies. Upon opening the bonnet I find the oil cap off, I ask my lad where he'd poured the water. In there where else would I put it, as he pointed to the oil opening.Can life get any worse/

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  • PRO
    Oh Marc!

    Having had van break-in's and workshop's raided quite a few times I can understand how you feel.
    I can also understand your frustration in respect of the water - I filled a brand new (Diesel) Nissan Cabstar up Petrol once:-0((
  • Hopefully the insurance will cover my eqpt, as for the van I've spent Sunday afternoon looking at local dealerships as I suspect I've blown the engine. Now I'm sat here totally miserable, large glass of very nice red sussing out how am I going to organise van cover and the jobs that need doing this week.

    Oh well, it looks like the misses car is going to get dirty!!!
  • Hi Pro Gard, thanks so much for the offer of the spare kit. I've managed to cobble together a couple of working pieces of kit from old kit I had.

    Looking now to hire a van for the week.
  • Hi Marc

    Sorry to hear about the van mate, I did warn you about the exact same break in incident to my van just a couple of days ago at what sounds like the same place, I seem to remember I suggested where was covered by the cctv. I know how you feel, sickining aint it!

    Hope you have a police incident number, and a fist full of receipts, otherwise the insurance company won't give you second look!

    If you want a hand with anything, let me know via the forum and I will see if I can help.

    Cheers,

    S.
  • Mark I really feel for you as like many of us I have also been there.

    I don't want to make your weekend any worst but my insurance (tools in transit cover) didn't pay up as the deadlocks were not in operation I really hope you don't get the same response as I did. The police are flipping useless as well.

    These things are sent to try us and I don't want to go into personal details of the last few days that we encountered but be thankful it is only tools that you lost. I know it doesn't help but these can be replaced.

    I trust that your "lad" will be paying a small amount to your van repair bill out of his wages each week?
  • Bastards!!! Stealing another mans tools is so very low. However one day you'll look back and laugh...I can say that coz I'm too far away for you to punch me!!!
    Seriously, I'm sorry to hear about your day.
    Ben
  • Had my van broken into last year...I now lock all my tools to each other have dead locks and & PIR alarms, limo black and bars on the rear window and a Diskloc for the steering wheel...pain in the bot locking unlocking etc but you get used to it.

    Hope you get sorted soon
  • Ouch - really feel for you.

    Had tools stolen once when I was unloading - cheeky blighters nicked it while I was at side of van. No insurance payout as didn't 'break in'...

    Van hell I'm all too familiar with. Check it's economical to repair. Long story but I wasted a fortune on my vivaro only for it to be ultimately condemned. Broke my bank balance & Mrs B's emergency funds to buy a toyota and it's the best thing I ever did.

    Enjoy the red- best way to deal with it....

    Chin up

    Donny
  • Hi Marc

    Sorry to hear about your bad luck - I too had my petrol lawn mower and 2 petrol strimmers stolen recently - although in my case it's been a bit of a blessing! As I only do a small amount of garden maintenance jobs alongside my other business I only had an old castlegarden Raser mower that I had bought cheap off eBay about 2 years ago - along with an old Mcculloch strimmer that needed servicing badly, and a new Ryobi strimmer, brush cutter and extendable hedgetrimmer that my sons had bought for me for Christmas. The Ryobi was having problems - it was really difficult to start and kept cutting out and as I hadn't touched it since it was bought at Christmas I hadn't sent in the warranty form - so was looking at having to pay out of my own pocket to get it looked at. Then along come the local pikeys who proceeded to rob these items from my garage.. Now the insurance company has supplied me with a nice 18" self propelled MTD mower, and replaced both the strimmers with brand new models - the best bit is that the oiks didn't bother to take the attachments for the Ryobi meaning I have 2 spares!
    I know these strimmers probably will be looked upon with disdain by you professionals, but on a very limited budget and for the smaller jobs I do think they are fairly reasonable. I would value opinions on the MTD (Lawnflight) it's an MTD46 SPO and although I have used it in my own garden - which is fairly small, would you guys suggest it is ok for general mowing maintenance jobs on a larger garden?

    I am sure things will improve Marc - just focus on the positives and not on the negatives - I always live by the 'what you think about you bring about' mantra - although it hasn't worked on the lottery .. yet!

    Regards

    Mike
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