My trusty X9 has been stolen!

[markws]

I was gutted to leave work at 5.30 and find a space where my X9 had been parked.  It was parked outside my office building within St George's Hospital site in Tooting.  The Oxford disc-lock was lying cracked on the pavement.  The key barrel was also lying there with a rusty screw in it.  These were clearly accomplished theives.  This happened between 14:00 and 17.30 - I had used the scooter between 12.00 and 14.00 then returned to the office.  The area is not isolated and it is close to a main road so the theives must have been well-orgainised and quick.  I feel especially upset as although the scooter is quite old - Y reg - I have spent plenty of money on it - £600 last September alone on a service.  There is CCTV coverage so perhaps this will reveal something.  It is a horrible feeling to lose something that one has valued and appreciated - it has got me all over London and in 5 years only let me down once with a faulty battery.  I expect it with get smashed up and left abandoned in a few days.  Unless it has been stolen to order for parts.  It seems an odd vehicle to take - it had a top box and was by no means light to take away.

Anyway I guess I need to move on.  I wonder if I will replace it with another X9, I did find it very comfortable and easy to ride.  As well as having plenty of storage, etc.  I had two helmets on the bike as well!  One under the saddle and one in the topbox.

Oh well, I guess the sadness will fade

Mark

[Big Ears]

I know how you feel. Rotten! It happened to me (different circumstances) in 2006. That was an almost new 500 Evo. On the bright side, with the insurance money, I bought a Burgman - so it wasn't all bad news.

Let's hope the CCTV reveals all.

[julian]

Really sorry to hear of this. It is the first time I have heard of a pre-SL being stolen. 

[johnp]

What b@stards for nicking your bike.

[joyce]

I am very sorry to hear your news. It is not just the inconvenience it is the 'how dare they' feeling that hurts.

Unfortunately being an older bike means the insurance value isn't as high as the bikes value to you. I do hope they can catch the scroats.

[hingysaid]

Sorry to hear about your bike being nicked.....   If I were betting, I'd say it will be the local youths who have stolen it solely for a 'joy' ride.... I deal with these types of yobs and this particular crime everyday unfortunately, and any type of automatic scooter is fair game to them (most of them haven't got the brain power to cope with geared bikes).

Details of how the lock was disabled has been removed for obvious reasons  - Joyce

   It will probably turn up on one of the local estates soon enough.

When you reported it to the police, did you accept the offer of 'VRS' - vehicle recovery service ?- if you said no to this, you're less likely to see the bike again, as when the police find it they will try and contact you; if you're not 5 minutes away at that time, they'll be forced to leave it, and it will probably be re-stolen (in my opinion definitely worth saying yes, and most times your insurance company will cover the cost).

Only soloution is - a BIG chain attached to an immovable object (the scum won't be bothered with the hassle of tackling a decent chain on most occasions, and being attached to something, means they can't cart it away and work on it somewhere secluded)

These tend to be among the best rated chains to buy       http://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk/

Hope you get back on two wheels again soon Mark!

 

[Huskyteer]

Really sorry to hear that - what a blow.

[Treb]

That's really sickening, as stated the bike itself may not be worth a fortune in monetary value. However as a reliable workhorse that's had time and care spent on it in servicing etc it's value to you is a lot.

[smurph]

 I gutted for you mate, espicially as it  happened in broad daylight,  I think we can all read this as a beware of the theiving B##stards out there,


 Hope your insurance company cough's up he dough quickly 

[BrianG]

I am sickened by this kind of thing.  It belonged to you and only you knew of its little habits and ways.  I hope they do catch them and deal with them properly.  It is like losing the use of part of the body.

Hope you have a good outcome.

BrianG

[Chris Salter]

Just effing awful! Although like yourself I take precautions when I park up, I never expect it to get stolen.My biggest fear has always been vandalism. So sorry mate.
Chris.

[Stephen19]

This is terrible to hear. And especially as you had taken security precautions. It brings some fear to myself as well. I always thought that the front brake disc locks were pretty foolproof?
Are they not?
I have a fairly large front disc lock. I also use a chain on the rear but only overnight and with a cover attached with padlocks. But in daytimes I only use the disc lock when out ...I am a tad worried myself now.
What to do?
S

[edison]

Really, really bad! I hope "they" meet with some misfortune. On the hopeful side there arn't enough X9's to remain obscure.

[rossm]

That sucks to hear, been in that position myself coming out to find a empty bit of tarmac where the bike had been sitting, never leave my bike without an Almax on it now

[Gaz]

Sorry to hear of your bad luck Mark, again like Bigears, I know exactly how you feel. Although it wasn't my bike that got stolen (it was my sons Peugeot Speedfight II) I felt gutted for him. It makes you feel sick inside. It was pushed to the top of the road and set it alight as they couldn't get it started. I also had to replace it as he's only 16.

Good luck in the future.

[markws]

Thank you all for your responses, it is good to share such news with people who appreciate the loss.

The scooter turned up several days later about 5 miles away on an estate in Southwark.  It had been pretty smashed up.  Estimate for repair came to £1,500 just for the parts.

My insurance company have been really good and offered me what I suggested it was worth.  I have £250 excess but should still be able to replace it with a newer model if I add a few hundred.  I will try to get something with an immobiliser or code to start the engine as a security measure.

Thanks again for your support everyone

Mark

[Big Ears]

St. Georges to Southwark? Sounds a bit too far for local lads "havin' a larf".

Did the CCTV offer any clues?
 

[markws]

The security at st georges and the police have generally been disappointing.  The CCTV picked up a group of kids with scooters who made off with my x9, but the images were poor quality and could not pick out the registrations.  A crime scene officer attended and dusted the broken lock and ignition barrel, but the police declined to come and view the CCTV pictures.  I was asked if I wanted the police recovery scheme but chose not to - my brother had taken up this offer and paid over £100 to pick up the burnt out shell of his scooter.  When the police found my scooter they said they would not perform forensics on it as I had not taken out the recovery scheme.  I received a letter a few days later saying the case was closed due to lack of new leads!

I'll be investing in extra security when I get my replacement

Mark

[Big Ears]

"Lack of new leads" ?! 

Because they didn't do their job to the full, because you didn't bung them a ton pay them a fee!    

I wonder if your local Councilor/MP is aware of this policy?

[spannerman]

Colin, shame on you, the police have now diversified onto speed radar checks on pedal cyclists, very important work, enforcing the 10mph speed limit, down on the beach on a sunny day.

[joyce]

I doubt they could have prosecuted anyone even if you did take up their offer of recovery. The scoot will have been hanging around for a while before it had been found so anyone could have 'touched' it after the theft.

[jsusa]

This is a common thing in Split mate.
Sorry to hear.
I park mine and lock it to my leg.

[X9-125-Evo]

I once attached a GPS received that you buy for a car, and fixed it to the inside of my belly pan, then using Google map + GPS on my N95 fone i was able to track my bike ( X9 ).

Was very good, but i sold it later on as i needed some extra cash.

If you want get one of these GPS Trackers and if your bike is stolen, click the link on your fone and the GPS will guide you to your bike where ever it is , stood still or in motion.

[X9-125-Evo]

http://www.spygadgets.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=1&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=WTGPRS

[Ray Bain]

As far as I am aware the police do not keep the £100 'bung', they call out a garage on the rota who collects the stolen vehicle and returns it to secure storage. The scene of crime officer then attends the garage to check for forensic evidence. I am concerned that the investigating officer did not view the CCTV evidence as  local officers may be able to identify offenders from clothing (helmets) or their scooters. With the best will in the world it would be very difficult to secure a conviction unless the miscreant was caught riding the stolen scoot.

Even if the offender had been caught our soft judicial system would have done little to stop them doing it all over again - sorry for the loss of an old friend