Thefts at the SVR.......

[peteb]

Some unwelcome news from the BBC....

Volunteers heartbroken at Severn Valley Railway break-in

Several lamps and other heritage equipment are taken in the break-in in Shropshire.

www.bbc.co.uk

A theft of rare lamps and other historical items from a heritage railway station has left volunteers "heartbroken", the organisation has said.

The break-in was discovered at Severn Valley Railway's (SVR) Eardington station on Tuesday when staff found the door of the lamp room had been forced open.

Up to a dozen lamps, worth a few hundred pounds each, were taken along with other items including a cast iron door sign.

"They represent a great deal of emotional value to us at Eardington. We are heartbroken that this has happened," stationmaster Steve Downs said....

 

[Forty29]

Disgraceful act which is heartbreaking for the volunteers. Seems everything removable should have some sort of security mark so can be traced. Unfortunately they will be sold on by the 'back door' and never recovered.

 

[D Williams]

Disgraceful act which is heartbreaking for the volunteers. Seems everything removable should have some sort of security mark so can be traced. Unfortunately they will be sold on by the 'back door' and never recovered.

I wonder if any security system was installed?

 

[ComUtoR]

Unfortunately they will be sold on by the 'back door' and never recovered.

Who is buying heritage equipment via a 'back door' ? Is there a black market for it ? Give it a week and check ebay.

 

[peteb]

Sadly brass has a high scrap value compared to other metals.............

 

[Forty29]

Who is buying heritage equipment via a 'back door' ? Is there a black market for it ? Give it a week and check ebay.

You know what I mean. eBay proves my point.

 

[ComUtoR]

You know what I mean.

Nope, totally didn't and never really heard that phrase before. If anything its probably general vandalism and its been binned already. I doubt it would be targetted for scrap metal. Mindless opportunism.

eBay proves my point.

Any stolen goods and Id be looking on ebay. It's pretty trackable so you are looking for stupid crims but even places like facebook marketplace I'd be checking.

 

[merry]

Ths week I received an announcement that HOPS (Heritage Operations Processing System, hops.org.uk) has added a register of stolen items for the Heritage sector. Hopefully this will aid collectors, and auctioneeers etc., to identify stolen items more easily. Let's hope that it helps a few more stolen items be recovered - although of course this only helps where the buyers are honest & well-meaning, or the sales channel takes care to check whether items are stolen, but it's a start. And of course, if you are considering buying something do please check the register first!

Sadly heritage buildings (like many industrial premises) can be hard to secure to modern standards, at least without affecting the heritage nature of the place. And as noted above, the items have value even as scrap, let alone as collectable artifacts. Whilst there are things "worth" stealing, sadly some people will think it's OK to do so & not care about the impact on others.

 

[railfan99]

HOPS (Heritage Operations Processing System, hops.org.uk) has added a register of stolen items for the Heritage sector. H

How confident are you that every heritage railway has separately photographed every potential 'item of interest' to thieves such as signs, lamps and so on?

At some with museums and many lineside signs, this could be a significant task.