Fuming

[Errin Paddywack]

Had a panicked phone call from my sister 9pm last night to say that the property above ours had been raided and in the getaway the b****s had failed to make the turn onto our lane and crashed through our fence. This fence is concrete posts and wire so substantial damage done, they then drove round the field before trying to ram their way out a different point, having failed they then drove straight up the field through our middle fence and then cut the chains and padlock on the top gates. Our neighbours lost their quad bike and several chainsaws. The mess is unbelievable and the damage to the fences is going to take a lot of repairing. Two wonderful people turned up and knocked some wooden posts in for us and put some netting up. Just don't know what we would have done without them.
My sister's ponies were in the field and were in a very panicked state but fortunately no harm done. We were there for two or three hours last night and have spent the morning tidying up the ruined fencing and making it all safe for the sheep and ponies. Not what I wanted to be doing only 4 weeks after breaking two ribs.

 

[ihatework]

B@stards. I’m sorry ?

 

[Berpisc]

Oh that is terrible. The rotten sh*ts. Thank goodness you had some help, its the last thing you need to happen.

 

[Red-1]

That sounds awful, but fortunate that the animals and people are all OK.

I would take solace that it was not a targeted attack (and put more substantial posts in the front garden!).

 

[Xmasha]

Sorry to read this OP . What a bunch of tw…..s .
thank god your ponies and sheep are ok .
Sorry to read about the ribs too . Ouch they hurt . Hope things get better for you all

 

[milliepops]

oh no i'm glad your animals are OK and that there are people around to do emergency repairs but that's so awful.

 

[PurBee]

Crikey EP - that’s awful its not what anyone should be dealing with on a winter’s night. It’s a miracle the sheep and ponies were unharmed with that kind of commotion. Glad you got help to put in quick remedial fencing in the meantime.

Were the idiots traced and caught/arrested?

In case you weren’t aware, there are criminal compensation schemes in the uk you can claim to for damages in criminal cases where the suspects were not caught/charged. My friend claimed a few years ago now, so there probably are different schemes up and running to replace your gates/fencing/field posts etc.
Thats if your insurance doesnt cover these things. It might be easier to try insurance route - but worth googling criminal compensation schemes uk.

In ireland, the governments mostly terrible rural road drainage work is not like the uk with drains/grates/piping - instead they usually dig large ditches between road edge and neighbouring fields - so if anyone ends up verring off the road they nose-dive into a ditch, instead of careering into fields. Not a bad thing in instances like yours with criminals trying to rush off!
We often have calls to haul out cars from ditches with our 4x4, as most end up in them when passing a lorry, as the roads are so narrow and people head over the edge of the road not seeing the ditch!

Do you have space to dig a ditch in the most likely areas drivers are prone to coming off the road onto your land?

 

[Baywonder]

I am so sorry to hear this. What utter ????? - there really are some vile people on this earth.

I really do hope you recover quickly - and it is a relief to hear the animals are all okay. <<Hugs>>

 

[Esmae]

That's awful EP. I really hope they get their just desserts pdq. Glad your ponies and other livestock are all okay.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I'm not suprised that you are fuming! I would be, too. Thank goodness all the animals survived the experience. I'm sorry about the ribs,though.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I would take solace that it was not a targeted attack (and put more substantial posts in the front garden!).

The fence consisted of the concrete posts and wire used alongside railways. I am just amazed that the vehicle was still capable of being driven after the damage it did and must have done to itself. We have its wing mirror.
The neighbour has them on video and you can hear them speaking. Police haven't been out as far as I know. We have a crime number as do our neighbours. Not covered by insurance unfortunately. If I could afford it I would like to put up the M-Way style crash barrier fencing on that stretch.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Do you have space to dig a ditch in the most likely areas drivers are prone to coming off the road onto your land?

We would have to lose a lot of land to do that. This is just a private track with a driveway off it to two other properties. It doesn't go anywhere else. This shows the drive coming down and where they ploughed straight through the fence. Patched up with wooden posts and electric fence posts for the moment.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Oh crikey! How bloody awful, v glad ponies all ok but so sorry to read of all the damage x

Having seen your photo, how about looking for heavy metal posts or rsj's, then get iron poles fixed on like scaffold poles. Neighbours have that and it even stopped a sliding 12t feed truck!

 

[PurBee]

We would have to lose a lot of land to do that. This is just a private track with a driveway off it to two other properties. It doesn't go anywhere else. This shows the drive coming down and where they ploughed straight through the fence. Patched up with wooden posts and electric fence posts for the moment.View attachment 85194

A 4foot wide V shaped ditch, 3 foot deep will catch all get-away cars and theyd have to run off on foot! ?

The ditches also are good deterrents for stock to not escape. I love the benefits of ditches…but im in rural ireland so its kinda inevitable! ?

 

[HappyHollyDays]

What a bunch of t*****s. I’m so sorry and hope they are caught. Agree with PurBee, a nicely placed deep ditch just on that corner would have stopped them permanently and it might be something to think about for the future.

 

[Clodagh]

I’m so sorry, why do people have to be so vile?
I’m glad the animals are ok. We lost a young horse to a broken leg when I was a child after some people drove through his field.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Oh no, EP I’m so sorry, absolute f***wits
People are such a let down.

 

[holeymoley]

So sorry you took the brunt of their getaway. Horrible rats.

 

[PeterNatt]

One thing to be awre of is that they may return in a few weeks/months time and try to steal the replacement Quad Bikes etc. If you wish to deter them in future then install some Heavy Duty pressure treated wooden posts that are cemented in the ground or even some metal girders.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Having seen your photo, how about looking for heavy metal posts or rsj's, then get iron poles fixed on like scaffold poles. Neighbours have that and it even stopped a sliding 12t feed truck!

My sister and I want to look into the cost of using the heavy metal barriers you see on M-Ways. Someone we know has this all along his front boundary and it is brilliant. We can't ask him unfortunately as he died a couple of years ago.
Feel sorry for the people who had the quad stolen as apparently it wasn't insured, it seems insurance companies just don't want to know about them. Just too nickable.

 

[Clodagh]

Not very attractive but a few concrete blocks?

 

[The Xmas Furry]

My sister and I want to look into the cost of using the heavy metal barriers you see on M-Ways. Someone we know has this all along his front boundary and it is brilliant. We can't ask him unfortunately as he died a couple of years ago.
Feel sorry for the people who had the quad stolen as apparently it wasn't insured, it seems insurance companies just don't want to know about them. Just too nickable.

I just dig out the deep ditches on my lane boundary, prevents most rogue dogs too, as each year the bank height increases with the ditch spoil.

 

[Rumtytum]

My sister and I want to look into the cost of using the heavy metal barriers you see on M-Ways. Someone we know has this all along his front boundary and it is brilliant. We can't ask him unfortunately as he died a couple of years ago.
Feel sorry for the people who had the quad stolen as apparently it wasn't insured, it seems insurance companies just don't want to know about them. Just too nickable.

Good luck in sourcing the barriers, they sound just the job.
Our neighbours had their quad bike stolen, bought another and that was stolen too.
I hope so much the scum who did yours are caught.

 

[Gloi]

Bastards. I'm glad your animals are alright.

 

[tda]

Not very attractive but a few concrete blocks?

Yes you can get solid concrete in 1 m3 blocks few of those strategically placed

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Sorry to read this - no wonder you're fuming.

 

[FestiveG]

There used to be fencing made of concrete posts and cast iron drain piping along an unmade road, was very strong and would probably have stood up to the fleeing idiots. Might be worth looking into

 

[Esmae]

I've just googled crash barriers. Used ones on E-bay from £20. Any good?? Might be worth having a look maybe.

 

[Snow Falcon]

I hope karma gets them. Sorry you have this to deal with this.

 

[littleshetland]

God, how awful for you...hope you get sorted soon.