'Superhero' takes on clampers


The self-proclaimed superhero operates in Kent and London
Clad in a blue leotard and wielding a saw, a man claiming to be the UK's first wheel clamp vigilante is offering his services to motorists.
Angle-grinder Man - a self-proclaimed superhero - patrols by night looking for unhappy drivers who have been clamped and then sets their cars free.

He promises to take on clamping firms, speed cameras and the congestion charge on behalf of drivers.

An odd-job man by day, he claims to operate in Kent during the week and in London at weekends.

A hotline number on his website offers a free wheel clamp removal service.

I for one am prepared to fight for what is fair and am making myself available to the public

Angle-grinder Man

On calling, an answer phone message invites callers to "leave a message after the grinding sound".

The unnamed man, who wears a costume of gold boots and crotch-hugging pants over a blue leotard, said he was happy to take the risk.

"It's a public service," he says on his website.

"I for one am prepared to fight for what is fair and am making myself available to the public.

'Deeper malaise'

"I may not be able to single-handedly and totally cast off the repressive shackles of a corrupt government - but I can cut off your wheel-clamps for you."

He says he decided to go "full-time vigilante" in May this year.

"My obsession with wheel-clamping is actually a rebellion against a much deeper malaise," he said.

"Namely, the arrogant contempt that politicians hold for the people who put them into power, and whom they claim to represent."

A Kent Police spokeswoman said no complaint about wheel clamps being cut off had been made by either a clamping firm or a member of the public.

A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said they could not investigate unless a crime was reported

see - http://www.anglegrinderman.com/

That's quite an impressive...grinder...he has there.:ooh:

I like his style and I have to admit, from personal experience, an angle-grinder makes a marvellously effective "emergency gate-key"...why, even the threat of its use can open gates which were previously locked fast. :O

He was on the GMTV sofa this morning, in full regalia, mask, cape, the lot. What a top bloke.

The AA guy sat next to him could hardly keep his 'we cannot condone this sort of thing as its illegal' face straight, obviously thought it hilarious too.

timmcat, I can't help but think that the disguise is not great and that his identity is probably already known by the boys in blue. Should we look out for horror - shock - arrest news shortly?

Clamping has to be the stupidest punishment going.

The authorities don't want a vehicle parking there because it blocks traffic or is dangerous, so what do they do? clamp it and make sure it stays there ...blocking traffic and being dangerous.

Not that no-one's said this before...

Onan, many of the complaints about "clamping" are from people who have been clamped on private land.

I am not sure whether AGM differentiates between these.

I have to say though that people who just park wherever they want are maybe even just a little bit worse than the ones who clamp.

Heres a plan.....

Between saving the Clamped in distress and sitting next to Lorraine Kelly he should take his Angle grinder to the many speed cameras.

Running Traffic Wardens over on the way:E

Sorry to resurrect this thread but what is the situation now with respect to private clampers? (I understand that a law has / is about to take effect requiring clampers to be licensed and therefore be subject to statutory regulation.

The reason for asking is that a relation of a friend of mine has discovered that their car had been clamped in the parking area outside their house. The parking space which they were occupying was within a "permit" zone for which they held the necessary permit. The clamper responsible has as yet not identified themselves.

Thanks in advance,

Rich :ok:

Personally if that were my situation - I trust your facts - I would be reeling out my extension lead, attaching my angle grinder to it and ridding my vehicle of said device.

I would then send it back to the relevant company, in as many pieces as possible with an invoice for my time.

Indeed the law change was muted and I do not know if it has made it officially.

Call me stroppy but if as you say, the vehicle was legally parked and the clamping company have not identified themselves, what else do they deserve ?

If your friend is legally entitled to be there, then why not call the Police?

Everyone has a legal right to free passage along the Queens highway and clamping the car contravenes that

Lost_luggage, that's exactly what I thought, howeverI wanted to clarify the situation legally speaking prior to giving any "advice."

The two "solutions" which immediately sprang to mind were: 9" Angle Grinder or Oxy-acetylene (more fun).

Fuji;)

Astrodome, thanks for your reply. The police were called however they indicated that they would only become properly involved if after one week the clamper had not identified themselves, in which case they would remove the offending clamp by force.

Presumably if it could be shown in court that the vehicle was clamped in a location where it was lawfully parked then a civil case could be brought (claim costs incurred, etc)???

Fuji

Angle Grinder Man

Nice to hear of a citizen of true grit.

What a guy. The URL is no longer valid. Does anyone know what became of

ANGLE GRINDER MAN ?

Last update 1st November, wonder what's happened to him... :sad: anglegrinderman.org (http://www.anglegrinderman.org/)

In earlier days my 'whizz-wheel' had a stress-reliever on the back. Just something I could look at when I needed to give the brain a 10 second break. Originally it was a picture of Jane Fleming in a bath full of baked beans, but later it was a busker attacking her steel lingerie with a grinder.

Maybe they've met, and ANGLEGRINDERMAN is busy with ANGLEGRINDERGIRL and raising the DREMEL TWINS.