POLICE FOLLOW THIS...

[Poseidon]

Thread?


Something has been bothering me over the past few years. Those stickers on the back of security vans that state "police follow this van". What are they trying to achieve?

I've got it down to 2 scenarios in my head.

1) It's a warning to nobby and biggs, two of the finest armed blaggers left behind by the 70s, that they shouldn't try it on as the "police follow this van". Everywhere it goes, they go and theyre just desperate to nab some crooks.

2) It's a request to the police. The van could already have been nicked (may or may not have been nobby and biggs) and therefore having the "police follow this van", it'll spook the crims into making a break for it (making it obvious a heist is in progress), or else lead the rozzers back to the abandoned warehouse at the docks where they can call for backup and finally put away those pesky crooks.

With minor adjustment, this ambiguity could easily be resolved. For scenario 1, the addition of "the" at the start makes it a definite statement that "The police follow this van". For scenario 2, the addition of a comma would be helpful, politely requesting that any/all "Police, follow this van".

Anyone shed any light on this? Thoughts, feelings, emotions?

[RhynoCZ]

I very doubt that UK has got the money to have police surveillance of every marked van. Half of your police staff doesn't even carry a gun.

So I'd say, it's the option no. 2, a cry for help of some sort.
____________________
'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Robby]

Well, the ambiguity of the sticker has made it stick in your head enough to make a post about it on a forum. A link has been formed in your head between the van, and the police. That strikes me as a pretty effective nudge or nugget or doubt if I was planning on stealing said van.

It certainly makes me think about how the police may be following it, what sort of tracker it might have, and how there are softer targets out there.

[Jewlio Rides Again LLB]

I've seen stickers mentioning that the ha van should not be being driven outside of x hours. That sounds like a more effective one.
____________________
Mpd72: I can categorically say i’m Brighter than that, no matter how I come across on here.
HAHAHA HAHAHA Blew Chilly MyCrowSystems

[Rogerborg]

Police _police ^police police police police _police.

You'll rarely see a real one, so the best anyone can do is to try and make rogues at least think there might be some rozzers who are still doing actual rozzering. See also Cardboard Cutout Coppers.

https://i4.dailyrecord.co.uk/incoming/article5628822.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/JS62507868.jpg
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[hellkat]

Yeah that used to bother me. Especially about the comma.

Cos I used to follow said vans and say to them/in my head/myself "Well the police ain't following you, buddy, cos I'm following you ... and there are no rozzers in sight".

Until it dawned on me that it's pretty much the equivalent of "There are no tools left in this van overnight".

Entirely likely, one supposes, that trackers in the van are directly linked to police emergency hot-lines, so do the security companies have to pay the Met for that?
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[hellkat]

Somewhat like all the petrol stations that have a police car parked on their forecourt. Took me AGES to realise "... oh wait. That's not *QUITE* a police car."

Cos you only glance, and you see ... a police-y thing.

Like those hi viz that some bikers insist on wearing that say "POLITE - " and then some other gumpf underneath. Even now I still think that says POLICE. Even though I know better, I have to do the double take.
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[J4mes]

[kgm]

They don't get followed around but cops will often stop and wait nearby where possible if they see a pickup or drop off being made. If unable to stop they'll often ask the cctv operator to turn a camera in the relevant direction. The bigger loads are also often supervised by police here by arrangement when possible.

The majority are probably unsupervised but there a quite a few which are, generally just as a car drives past and spots them.

[supZ]

Always thought it was a request to police to follow them. Not a warning to others that police will follow it
____________________
CBR954RR - Daily toy
CBR600RR - Trackbike

[andyscooter]

as said very occasionally the police will follow the van about, normally if it has a large amount of cash in

they also have a tracker that the police can follow and it will activate and warn police if the vehicle deters from its set route

the cardboard coppers are to try and stop people shoplifting but really do not work (local scrotes stole the cardboard copper from a local shop for a laff)
the police cars you used to see were normally an older vehicle that was no longer in full service and left parked in a petrol station to deter drive offs

if there was a spate of them they parked the car up for a bit they also sometimes park them in supermarket carparks if the supermarket has a spate of shoplifters (normally when pikeys are in the area)

there was a car in aldi carpark today that was over 6 years old so not in active service
____________________
gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[RhynoCZ]

[J4mes]

According to who and based on what?

Because a quick google of "safest countries" doesn't even show it in the top 20. On some table I looked at.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[RhynoCZ]

The internet, huh?

https://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/011/307/Screen_Shot_2012-09-13_at_9.39.39_AM.png

To use an Czech site, as you used a British one: https://www.czechinvest.org/en/the-czech-republic-is-the-sixth-safest-country-in-the-world

But still, don't care, won't elaborate.
____________________
'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[thx1138]

[kgm]

[Mawsley]

[orac]

The person in can use PDA type things, every one in a while they flash up and have the he responded to (IRCC double tap ok the screen). If the response doesn't happen the police are automaticly called and gps co-ordinates sent. So while the backs aren't directly followed they are followed electronically.
____________________
Current rides - 2016 Triumph Street Triple Rx, 1994 Suzuki Bandit 400 VM, TGB 204 Classic 125cc
"with nothing left to lose, there is everything to gain. It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog"

[Dave70]

I see police parked up behind the aforementioned vans quite regularly when they're making a pick up or drop off around these parts.

Still doesn't stop them getting robbed though, especially when a gang of blokes appear on the scene with guns, as po po are unarmed.

At least it gives the police something interesting to watch though.
____________________
There ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk.

2012: R125 killed by white van. 2016 R125 killed by 30,000 miles of redline. Current: 2016 Kawasaki ER6f.

[thx1138]

[Hong Kong Phooey]

POLICE follow this bike




...if you think you have any chance of catching it.
____________________
'81 CG125, '97 FZS600 : '99 CBR600F4, '09 KTM RC8

[RhynoCZ]

[Azoth]