FOUND METRO! Peterborough

[Guest Breadvan72]

Scrotoids nicked my mum's Metro Van den Plas in the early 90s.  They abandoned it in Swindon.  The car never recovered from Swindon. 

[Lord Sterling]

Glad it's at least been recovered. Yes old cars pre late 90s are a pretty hot target for even your passing chancer. My 1987 E-reg Sterling had it's door bent back a couple of years ago when some scrote tried to nick it presumably for a joy-ride. Thankfully the stupidly loud 90s alarm went off and scared the cunt off. A nieghbour had seen what happend and told me, I phone the 5-0 and they were on scene within minutes.

 

The next day, a Volvo T5 driving copper came around and advised that I invest in a disk-lok device as a visual deterrant which I duly did.

[Jozza]

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):

 

1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).

 

2)

It usually starts with disbelief " Im sure I left it here" followed by shock then anger

 

 

This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.

 

3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.

 

I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...

 

4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!

 

Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

[Parky]

Fingers crossed for you Jozza, hopefully it's nothing a new door lock won't fix

[dollywobbler]

Well, I'm genuinely pleased to be proved wrong about the motive. Will the coppers let you see their on-board footage?

[Cavcraft]

Very happy you got it back and the police found who took it. I hope it's not too badly damaged, please keep us updated, cheers.

[Jozza]

Well, I'm genuinely pleased to be proved wrong about the motive. Will the coppers let you see their on-board footage?

 

I'll admit that it was the first thing I thought of - not that some passing Mini enthusiast had literally decided to nick my Metro for its engine, but that some nefarious scrote had nicked the Metro to sell its engine to some unsuspecting Mini enthusiast. It's the only form in which rusty blue Metros are worth any money. In any case, I'm (kinda) glad that it wasn't just broken up for bits.

 

Since they've caught someone I suppose it'll go to court at some point - maybe I'll get to see the epic 1.3 Metro v. Northants Hyundai panda car chase then!

 

Very happy you got it back and the police found who took it. I hope it's not too badly damaged, please keep us updated, cheers.

 

Thanks- I'll keep people posted. At best it'll need new locks/steering column shroud. If it's been properly pranged then it comes down to whatever the insurance company reckons E-reg Metros are worth (naff all), the prospect of finding parts (depends) and whether I feel I can properly make good the damage myself (possible). We'll see.

[Pillock]

Remember you can always take a payout AND keep the car so with a bit of patience, it should live to see another day.

A good result though. I hope whoever nicked it has a couple of tumbles down the police stations stairs.

[dollywobbler]

Aye. Get the car back to your property (or a friend's property) ASAP, then the insurance company roulette commences. 

 

EDIT - actually, why even bother with the insurance? A Metro can't be worth that much more than your excess!

[Partridge]

 cunt

 

 

That's the first time I've heard you use that word, Sterling!

[Partridge]

I'll admit that it was the first thing I thought of - not that some passing Mini enthusiast had literally decided to nick my Metro for its engine, but that some nefarious scrote had nicked the Metro to sell its engine to some unsuspecting Mini enthusiast. It's the only form in which rusty blue Metros are worth any money. In any case, I'm (kinda) glad that it wasn't just broken up for bits.

 

Since they've caught someone I suppose it'll go to court at some point - maybe I'll get to see the epic 1.3 Metro v. Northants Hyundai panda car chase then!

 

 

Thanks- I'll keep people posted. At best it'll need new locks/steering column shroud. If it's been properly pranged then it comes down to whatever the insurance company reckons E-reg Metros are worth (naff all), the prospect of finding parts (depends) and whether I feel I can properly make good the damage myself (possible). We'll see.

Fingers crossed it all comes good mate. I'm glad you've got it back though.

[beko1987]

Where abouts in peterborough is it usually located? Not near parnwell is it?

[Des]

Mini owners tend to be thoroughly nice people 

 

To every fact is an exception.

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/philip-maine-pervert-filmed-mini-2202527

[Jozza]

Where abouts in peterborough is it usually located? Not near parnwell is it?

 

I used to live near Parnwell (on Eastfield Road). I'm on the other side of town these days.

[HH-R]

My sympathies,  the feeling of violation when you've had something nicked is horrible.

 

Hope it's not too bad and is fixable.

[beko1987]

I grew up in Parnell! Then we went all posh and moved to werrington... Dad was in Bretton too which was fun*

[Jozza]

Just a quick update for you guys,

 

I spoke to the garage that the Metro was recovered to today, and the initial results don't sound good. To quote the person on the end of the phone 'the front end's all stove in...it certainly isn't driveable...no bumper, no grille, a smashed headlight.'

 

Given the near-zero worth of Metros I'm pretty sure it'll be a write-off from the insurere's point of view. I'll just have to go along and see it to gauge whether I reckon it's worth repairing myself. I doubt the work itself is that difficult, it's the time required to source parts. In my experience getting any parts for old Metros that aren't also used on Minis is next to impossible, even through the Club.

 

On the (slightly) upside, the police have charged the guy caught driving/crashing it with aggravated vehicle theft and he'll be up before the magistrate tomorrow morning.

[Bren]

If its cosmetic it might be salvageable - anything more will mean the end.

 

I would personally look at buying it back.

[dollywobbler]

Aye. Buy it back, remove the engine, then scour Ebay for a poor Metro that's had its engine removed.

[fordperv]

glad it got recovered, i really hope its easily fixable for you and hope the guy who nicked it got a bit of rough treatment on his arrest

[brickwall]

That is some good news that it was recovered. I'll keep my fingers crossed as to the condition.

 

My local copper says that even basic security on older cars is enough to put many thieves off and they will move on to elsewhere. Pulling a certain relay is always good

[Rusty_Rocket]

Aye. Buy it back, remove the engine, then scour Ebay for a poor Metro that's had its engine removed.

 

That's a very good idea if yours comes back too badly damaged

The one saving grace of a front-end tap is the fact the dizzy cap breaks as soon as the rad/ fan touches it- so hopefully it cut out on the lowlife before he could inflict any more damage on it  

I would imagine the insurance co. will (hopefully) let you keep the car gratis, considering its low value.  Good luck and hope the pr1ck that took it gets some justice.. 

[lisbon_road]

Very pleased to hear you found it. 

 

Given time, patience and money everything can be sorted.  Beat the b"£$%^&*s and get it fixed.

 

Good luck.

[Wilko220]

Sorry to hear that.

Glad they caught him but it's no consolation obvs.

[Parky]

Any more updates on the damage Jozza?

[Jozza]

Any more updates on the damage Jozza?

There are now!

 

==WARNING: VIEWERS OF A SENSITIVE DISPOSITION SHOULD LOOK AWAY NOW==

 

 

It's about a foot shorter than it was when I last saw it. But the radiator, which I spent so long tracking down last year, has survived.

 

 

It's obviously been stuffed into a ditch - every panel on the driver's side is rippled, scuffed and dented and the seams are full of grass.

 

 

The structural bits all seem fairly straight - a bit of distortion to the subframe but the  steering rack, suspension, sills etc. are undamaged,

 

 

Really glad I did the oil and filters now - only 180 miles ago!

 

 

None of my music was deemed worth nicking, so I got all my CDs, plus the handbook, back. Apparently there were two 18-gallon drums in the back when it was brought in, and a big red plastic funnel has mysteriously appeared amongst the contents - nicking red diesel from farms, perhaps? I got a pair of sunglasses into the deal, too.

 

Mechancially and structurally the Metro seems fairly unscathed. The interior (which was pretty mint) has been comprehensively borked - looks like they used a crowbar to smash open the steering lock) and it would need an entire front end (wings, slam panel, bonnet, bumper, lamps etc.), an almost entirely new off-side and a bit of work on the near-side to get back to the state it was in before it was nicked.

 

It's annoyingly save-able ; I was kinda hoping it would be utterly wrecked so I would have no qualms about letting it go. I just don't have the space or facilities to strip it and sell the mechanical parts (I have no driveway, just a couple of car park spaces - I'm actually in the middle of thinning out my car fleet and the Metro was on the 'to go' list) so I think I'm going to let the insurere's have this one. It'll go to a scrapyard and the powertrain will doubtless find its way under the bonnet of a Mini City.

[Junkman]

Now that was worth it, ffs.

What an absolute tosser.

 

Did they put him in chains and on a ship to Van Diemens Land?

Or straight to the Guillotine?

[trigger]

^{​Bastards. Still if the powertrain from this goes into a Mini and saves another decent Metro from losing it's engine than it's worth the sacrifice. Hopefully the insurance company with give you a good payout.}

[Angrydicky]

That's terrible, can't imagine how you must be feeling

[Jozza]

Now that was worth it, ffs.

What an absolute tosser.

 

Did they put him in chains and on a ship to Van Diemens Land?

Or straight to the Guillotine?

 

The case was moved on to the Crown Court with three charges, including the Grevious Metro Theft. So they're obviously angling for a fairly serious penalty if it's beyond the scope of a Magistrate.

 

That's terrible, can't imagine how you must be feeling

 

It's not good, but it could be much worse. I liked the Metro but I can't say I was that attached to it. If this was my Land Rover I would be pretty devastated and be willing to put in all sorts of unreasonable time/effort/money into getting it back on the road. I was planning to get rid of the Metro anyway - just not like this. Still, I wouldn't wish the fact of walking around a corner and seeing your car (which had been a very straight and fully working example when you last saw it) on a rack and all smashed up on anyone.