A real Doh! moment

tgabber · Crazy Courier Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

Having got a NIP this morning (see https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=33406 ) I decided this lunchtime to check out the road where the alleged offense is supposed to have occurred since it's only about 3 miles from me.

Duly got there (A2, Old Kent Road just past New Cross heading into town, if anyone is interested), parked in a nearby supermarket carpark and had a look around. Although there is at least one sign about cameras I could see no sign of the evil units themselves.

Anyway after wandering around for 10 minutes or so up and down the road, I decided to head back. Returned to the carpark and got that strange feeling in the bottom of my stomach as I realised my bike was nowhere to be seen. Instead near where I'd left it was a cheap looking ped... surely a wicked ped boy hadn't snaffled it? I'd only been gone 15 minutes or so and it was alarmed (although I'd not bothered with any extra security). What cursed luck to get the bike nicked while checking out a speed ticket!

As I wandered around lamely making doublely sure it just wasn't parked a bit further over and was hidden between two cars, the manager of the store came over and asked if I was ok. I explained my bike had been nicked and he invited me into the store to call the police and he said he'd check the CCTV.

So I phone the police. When I get through the woman there asks if I'd phoned the council. Why should I? I reply. They might have towed it away says she. I'm in a shoppers car park I explain, the council would have no reason to do that. Well anyway, she says, she can't file a report until I've checked with them. At this I lose my rag a bit and tell her that either she files a report or puts me through to someone senior who will. I'm put on hold and then, after hanging on for a few minutes, get cut off.

I'm really angry now. The manager comes back and says the CCTV wasn't pointing in the right direction. I phone the police station again. It rings and rings...

While it rings it occurs to me that I'm in a Toys 'r' Us. I could have sworn I'd parked next to a supermarket, but oh these places all look the same. The phone is still ringing out.

Then I look out at the carpark, it seems slightly different to how I remember it when I parked, I can't see the speed bump I went over for instance... an awful feeling is dawning on me...

I put the phone down just as someone answers and rush out of the store. Yep, there was another very similar car park another 100 yards or so down the road and there was my bike...

Embarassed

(I'm still mad at the police though for telling anyone who's had their bike nicked to check with the council first without taking account of the circumstances. Why couldn't she have said 'have you checked the very similar carkpark a bit further along?' Confused

)
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"It's all about dislocating expectation"
Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

That brightened up my day Laughing

Getting old? Laughing

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sv_cath · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 19 Apr 2004 Karma :

Class - absolute class!!!
Thumbs Up

r1_lad · Spanner Monkey Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Karma :

Bloody brilliant you class A plonker, made me chuckle. Your face must have been a picture!!

Next time i do something stupid, i'll remember this thread and think how it could have been worse.... Razz

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RS50 -> RS125 -> GSXR600 SRAD -> 02 R1 -> Speed Triple 1050 -> Ducati Streetfighter 1099 -> DRZ400 Superetard

stryker · Brolly Dolly Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Karma :

Heehee, makes me feel better about having locked my bike and forgot the key..... man at least I was not that dumb Laughing

In the nicest possible sense to you Smile

EDIT: BTW, were there plenty of speed limit signs down that road?

tgabber · Crazy Courier Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

You're all bastards! Laughing

It could, er, happen to anyone... Confused

@stryker: no speed signs, but then there doesn't need to be as it's an urban area with lampposts and thus a 30 mph limit. The NIP of course doesn't tell me how fast they reckon I was going, but I'm guessing it must have been a mobile unit that got me, so I will probably ask to see the evidence.
____________________
"It's all about dislocating expectation"
Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

Always ask to see the evidence (photo) I was reading in Performance Bikes mags that everyone should ask for the evidence, it is 100% perfectly legal to request and slows down the whole process and makes it harder work for whoever deal with them..Worth doing anyway IMO
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

Finglonga · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Karma :

Priceless

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Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

jonboy · Trackday Trickster Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Karma :

ive always had the NIP tell me the speed, but they were fixed units.

roozor · Scooby Slapper Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Karma :

L O L !!!!!! Mr. Green

Mr.Everready · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Mar 2003 Karma :

Ninja · Caption Abuser Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Karma :

Jaz · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Karma :

Dom · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Karma :

Lol!

Like Jaz said, I've had plenty of 'I could've sworn I parked here' moments, but to have the police on the phone... fantastic!

Thanks for sharing that - I have a feeling if it was me I wouldn't be in a hurry to share the story. Laughing

Andy99 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Karma :

Absolute classic mate.

You're a better man than me,i'd never admit that to the world it would be far to embarrassing.
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Smoto Bob · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Karma :

HAHAHAHAHAHAAH thats funny as hell mate Laughing

Bet you were glad to get out of there eventually Thumbs Up

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F'it DO WHAT EVER MAKES YOU HAPPY!!!!! Even if it screws over everyone else :p
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tgabber · Crazy Courier Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

Well, I don't suppose I'd have been as quick to phone the police if the store manager hadn't come over.

I'm just lucky now that the obstinate plod woman didn't take all my details... Otherwise I might have ended up riding a 'stolen' bike home - or having to phone the police and tell them this story Embarassed

Although it worked in my favour on this occasion, I still can't get my head around the business of me wanting to report a crime - and a crime that had supposedly only just taken place at that - and being told that I couldn't unless I phoned the council first!
____________________
"It's all about dislocating expectation"
Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

jay12329 · Dr. Evil Joined: 02 May 2003 Karma :

Its when you get stopped and arested for rideing your stolen bike you begin to worry!
As for the NIP i'm sure my dads stated he was doing 48 in a 40.
Might jsut be the way nottinghamshire do theirs.
J

stryker · Brolly Dolly Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Karma :

I'm afraid we live in a world where police go to extraordinary lengths to place all these cameras on the road but cant be ars*d to take the report of a stolen bike.

You'd think they'd be interested in getting your bike back so you can get back on the road and start earning them some money.

katana · Trackday Trickster Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Karma :

That definitly amused me

Also secretly I've done that with the car in a multistroy car park.

With the NIP ask for a photo can get it without saying you commited the offence.

Dusty · King of the Rim Joined: 25 Mar 2003 Karma :

Neoluke · Banned Joined: 23 Aug 2004 Karma :

Hahaha!

That's a classic right there. I bet you felt so stupid. Razz

Visitor Q · $25 whore Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Karma :

Two points.

One: At tesco i had a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge barney with the managers about my number not working for the tills 'suddenly'. This went on for about 10 minutes, in the end i demanded they find out what it was, only to find out id muffed ONE digit. But i was 100% certain and id been using it for months and months. Then i started thinking i should cut down on the pot Wink

Two: They dont have to send you your pic, altho you can wait your full 28 days before sending back the nip. Thus delaying the court date by 28 days.
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China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...

tgabber · Crazy Courier Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

Instead of sending the NIP back admitting I was the driver (er, rider Rolling Eyes

), I'm going to write them a letter saying although I think I might have been the rider I can't be sure without seeing the evidence and then see what they do.
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"It's all about dislocating expectation"
Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

Visitor Q · $25 whore Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Karma :

tgabber thats exactly what i did and they wouldnt play fair. Their line is 'from behind you all look the same so nar nar na nar na.... NO DICE!' etc

Altho would be worth a crack.
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China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...