Attack of the Clones...

[Lordy99]

My God, it seems like I've been away from here for donkeys years.

Here's a strange little tale and a little warning for all you folks out there.

At the end of last week I received a Notice of Intended Prosecution from the local Police force . Supposedly I was exceeding the speed limit on a long stretch of road about 30 miles from my house at some unearthly hour in the morning. Now this wouldn't be so bad were it not for the fact that I was tucked up in bed whilst my car was parked in a secure car park. Having managed to check the cctv of the car park I was certain that my car hadn't budged an inch. So I was ready to write to the Police and get enough evidence to clear my name.

...and now for the fun bit.

As I was out shopping yesterday I got a call from a mate of mine who was at an out of town shopping complex. He claimed that he was stood next to a Cooper pretty similar to mine with my reg plate on it . As luck would have it, he'd been returning to his car when he spotted the Cooper pull in before the driver and his passengers got out and went into a restaraunt.

Before you know it I was down at the complex with Police in tow. A few minutes later the Police apprehended the little blighters (after a bit of a tussle) and the car was empounded.

It turns out that the car was stolen elsewhere in the country and new plates put on that matched a Cooper in the same colour (except the roof). It appears that the thieves had used a hook and cane to reach through the letterbox of the unsuspecting owner of the car and grab their keys. Hopefully the owner of the car will have it returned to them... I know I'd be livid if anyone stole my little baby.

Please be aware that your cars are being targeted by these criminals. Don't leave your keys near doors and windows so they can have an easy time getting into your precious little motor.

Also, by putting your car's reg plate and car description on sites like this (in photos and in your signitures) you are generating a useful resource for the people who use these false plates.

Be safe .

LORDY

[Martin L]

Pretty daft of them to use the cloned car in a similar area to where the original "lives". They deserved to get caught the idiots

[Neil Curtis]

A smililar thing happened to my uncle a couple of years ago. He was sent photographic evidence that he was driving 50 odd mph through a speed camera. He knew he didn't because he was on holiday at the time and the car was at Stansted airport car park.

When he looked closer at the photo, he noticed that the car (Ford Mondeo) had a rear wash wipe and was a hatchback. His car didn't have a rear wash wipe as it was a saloon.

After many aruguments and letters to the police and dvla, he was cleared, but it was a hassle and as far as I know, they never traced the other car.

Scarey Stuff, like you say, don't give out your reg number to anyone, I always blank my plate out when putting pictures on the web.

[smiffy]

Quote:

Originally posted by Lordy99
As I was out shopping yesterday I got a call from a mate of mine who was at an out of town shopping complex. He claimed that he was stood next to a Cooper pretty similar to mine with my reg plate on it . As luck would have it, he'd been returning to his car when he spotted the Cooper pull in before the driver and his passengers got out and went into a restaraunt.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm you should ask dinger about car number plates

[Lordy99]

I'm quite glad that the thieving little *** got a face full of CS gas for his troubles.

[Neil Curtis]

Quote:

Originally posted by smiffy
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm you should ask dinger about car number plates

Is it dingers car that has the 'imaginatively re-modelled alphabet' font?

[An_S_4_Me]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordy99
I'm quite glad that the thieving little *** got a face full of CS gas for his troubles.

Mwah!! I too am loving the fact they got sprayed, thieving *****s

[Minty]

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Curtis


Is it dingers car that has the 'imaginatively re-modelled alphabet' font?

Yup, thats the one

[Lordy99]

I've just got off the phone with a copper from a seperate constabulary. He'd only gone and phoned me up to ask why, if I was the only person with access to my car, did I drive off without paying for my petrol earlier in May.

He sounded a bit disturbed when I laughed down the phone. Apparently Police folk don't speak to each other or use any central records so I told him the story which he's now gone to "investigate".

I wonder what other little tricks this muppet has got up to. I can't believe how stupid some criminals really are. Now I'm REALLY glad that the little turd got gassed.

Doesn't it make you feel safe.

LORDY

[noahe]

That really makes a good argument for the jurisdiction controlling the number plates. In the US and Canada, the individual States and Provinces distribute the actual, physical number plate, you can not simply go to a store, and have one made up. Some jurisdictions have incorporated anti-fraud features into the plates.

For example, in Ontario our plates come from the Ministry of Transportation. You are issued the plate, or if you've purchased a custom plate, it is mailed to you. Two forms of ID are required - your licence and something else, proof of insurance, vehicle registration, etc... The plate has several anti-fraud features, such as a holographic trillium on a thin-film coating, visible at angles of 30 degrees or more. Tough to get, tougher to fake.

[dcfkan]

I believe one is supposed to provide ownership document before a plate can be made up in the UK nowadays.

However, I believe this is not a widely adopted practice.

Luckily, I have a very distinctive car, and no one in his/her right mind will have such colour combo in the first place, let alone to steal one! And yes, I have a personalised number plate on it - had it since I got my first car in 1995. Not many K reg Red/Lime Green Coopers about I guess

DK

[MrCooper]

I bought a plate today. £10 and all I had to do was walk in and give them the plate number. No ID no questions. Easy.

[Minty]

It is illeagal in the UK to supply plates without proof of ownership. All plates must know have the supplying garage/motor factors name and post code on.

However, you can still get 'show use only' plates (like i have!) from places like GT Grafix , who do a few styles of text and good delivery service.