the access to the rear of our property is via a private secluded road. we are actually sited with a B&Q store behind us.every so often, you find people go into B&Q, throw something they have stolen over the fence and then sneak down our road to pick it up. as residents we all get annoyed to see anybody down the back that has no right to be there. in the past peoples cars /garages have been broken into and as such, i always have a go at anybody i see down here.

generally i am a very easy going pleasant person but i'm not one to be around if i am worked up about something.

i was home about 3pm yesterday and i decided to start digging holes for our new fence. i heard a bang behind the trees next to B&Q's fence so i peered round the my van to see what it was, i saw a lad walking away from the fence inside B&Q's garden area. expecting him to come round for it i hid behind my van. when i heard him picking up what he had stolen i ran out and jumped straight into the bushes to grab him. i missed him by litterally inches and he ran off. he stopped only about 20 meters away and looked at me and shouted "what are a f***ing do gooder?" to which i replied "no i just wanted to smash your face in for the fun of it". he then shouted " i know where you live now" so as you can imagine, i ran after him. now for those that have not met me, i'm not exactly what you would call light weight, i carry 18 Stone around but i'll tell you, i gave him a good run for his money and he was no more than 20 years old. as i ran around the corner about 5 meters infront of me he jumped into a car that was waiting for him.

as the car skidded off he again shouted "i know where you live now" to which i replied "and i've got your reg plate you pussy". unfortunately for me, i have to wear glasses to read so i only got 3 letters of it.

unknown to me Sue had seen me hiding behind my van and had walked down the garden to see what i was doing. she stood behind me all the while and heard everything. when i came back she said "you didn't catch him did you? " i said no and explained. she then said "what would you have done if you had caught him, hit him? because you would have been done then even though you were stopping a criminal"

now doesn't that just make you think!!! the trouble is, i will probably do exactly the same again next time.

the only two comments i have about the experience is that: -

1) Sue said "christ you can sprint fast when you want to and with all that weight it would be hard to stop you"

2) it's now over a year since i packed up smoking and you know what? i wasn't out of breathe at ALL
any smoker here will understand that more.

You can use "reasonable force" Rich, and if he resisted, a bit more
force in the apprehention of a criminal.
Hope he doesnt come back though and cause any damage.

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People forget how fast you did a job - but they remember how well you did it.

I no longer skinny dip, i chunky dunk these day's.

Give the old bill the details, they may have it on record

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Sue's right, you'd be in more trouble than the thief if you'd got him. You're brave! Have you had a word with the manager in B & Q about it? If they have security at night maybe they could go near your road when doing the rounds. Having been to your house I can't remember street lighting at the back, is there any?

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If at first you don't succeed, ask UHM in your hour of need!

Years ago my Father in Law was a night security guard in an office block.
He saw some cleaners come out the back of Boots and hide some items in a large bin, when they went back in he investigated and found lots of LP's (records to you young ones) and took the lot.


He had a right old laugh when they went looking for the 'goods', sold them in his local for beer tokens, then ended up as handyman for the same office block.

The tricks he go up to then I can't repeat but we furnished a cafe with chairs and tables.


John

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Growing old is compulsory, growing up is not!

Rich............Next time there around, get them to get me a patio set

woody- reasonable is judged by the way you look. when it is a smaller person hit by a larger, the fact we know we used very little force makes no difference, it will be judged as "excessive".

scruff...i took the copper pipe back to B&Q and they rang the coppers. i did actually give a description.

Lou..not brave more like blind stupidity from males, i suppose there is always the possibility he was carrying a weapon but i think a lot of us seem to have an inbuilt switch to the logic part of our brains & no, there is no light at all down there, it's pitch black.

EJ--

Only-me... if it had been something useful i might have even considered a different route but B&Q sell stupid 1.2meter lengths of pipe which i would never use.

i was only really concerned about people being down our private road when they shouldn't be

So that would make them Copper Coppers

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Did they give you a reward

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it's B&Q, what do you think

You can bet your bottom dollar mate if you would have caught the git you would have been in the shite - the country has gone to the dogs mate!

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"Where would we be without rules?
France! And where would we be with too many rules? Germany!"

ask to see the manager and explain about it happening often, and tell him to come up with a way to sort or you'll start complaining to the council, your local paper, and his area manager, they could make the fence higher, and then put some of the netting yopu see on buildings to stop birds from nesting from the fence to the building, that way people wont be able to throw anything over.

or next time run faster and give him a good kicking, but like telmay said the way the country is, is it worth it, were having problems he with a drug dealer who live in a flat in front of use, he was kicking of the other night on the front so i phoned the police, i told them his name and address, what was happening then they asked if i wanted to leave my name and number, so i did, a hour later they turn up go to his flat then start asking for me!!! they phoned me back cos they couldnt figure out what was happening i told the bloke on the phone not to use my name again, to which the WPC hows stood next the the drug dealer then asks down the radio who i was! i was fuming.

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such is life!