Popham Break In
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Popham Break In
Forgive me Mods if this has been posted elsewhere but on Sunday night Popham was broken into and a considerable amount of damage was done. Some stuff was stolen but Wiltshire Aircraft Maintenence were broken into and had aircraft damaged, tools stolen and graffitti sprayed over most things, Airbourne Aviation had their clubroom trashed with all fire extinguishers let off and the Popham Clubhouse and kitchen were vandalised.
Good CCTV images were obtained and these can be seen on the relatively new Popham Airfield Appreciation Facebook page.
Mods, if it is OK to post the pictures here too could you advise.
Many thanks
Good CCTV images were obtained and these can be seen on the relatively new Popham Airfield Appreciation Facebook page.
Mods, if it is OK to post the pictures here too could you advise.
Many thanks
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.....f**** scumsters...and whats the betting if found they'll be let off with no more than a slapped wrist and 20 hours community service. They should be tied to the windsock and flogged.
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That's very sad to hear.
I've no experience of Popham but I cannot help noticing at a lot of airfields just how poor security is. Cannot think of any other industry that would have hundred of thousands of pounds of kit laying around without any obvious security and ease of access
I've no experience of Popham but I cannot help noticing at a lot of airfields just how poor security is. Cannot think of any other industry that would have hundred of thousands of pounds of kit laying around without any obvious security and ease of access
It would be fairly easy for them to climb over the steel entrance gates, get through the hedge, or maybe they came over the fields surrounding the airfield.
If there is anything to be thankful for, it is that they appear not to have vandalised the aircraft parked between WAM and the "new" hangars, or the aircraft in the back field parking area.
Hopefully these lads can be identified and prosecuted, but I can`t see any way that you can protect anything the size of most airfields from anybody intent on breaking in.
Best wishes to all my old friends at EGHP, and I will try to get down there soon to see if any help is needed.
If there is anything to be thankful for, it is that they appear not to have vandalised the aircraft parked between WAM and the "new" hangars, or the aircraft in the back field parking area.
Hopefully these lads can be identified and prosecuted, but I can`t see any way that you can protect anything the size of most airfields from anybody intent on breaking in.
Best wishes to all my old friends at EGHP, and I will try to get down there soon to see if any help is needed.
Now hang on Tony, if they went for a joyride, they might have ended up wrecking someone's pride and joy.(look what happened to the PA30 in the USA recently) Course they might have harmed themselves too, but who cares about that.
Much better to offer them a 'free' parachute jump - and let them pack their own parachutes without any help.
Much better to offer them a 'free' parachute jump - and let them pack their own parachutes without any help.
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To the Mods
Please can we have the CCTV images published on this forum, I would like to see these idiots in court and think that the more publicity there is the more chance there is of of justice being done.
Last edited by A and C; 31st Jan 2013 at 14:08.
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Crimestoppers - BURGLARY AT POPHAM AIRFIELD
If anyone would like to copy this link to facebook or twitter, please feel free
If anyone would like to copy this link to facebook or twitter, please feel free
Last edited by FBS; 31st Jan 2013 at 16:16.
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That really sucks to hear. I saw these video of real-life sentry guns a while back and this thread made me wonder if they could be used for property defense 
Spoon PPRuNerist & Mad Inistrator
FBS,
We suggest that you contact the police force investigating this incident saying that PPRuNe are willing to allow the images to be posted here if they, the police, feel that it would be helpful.
Also, PPRuNe admin would require an assurance that the airfield and businesses at Popham want the links to the CCTV recordings to be posted here.
SD
We suggest that you contact the police force investigating this incident saying that PPRuNe are willing to allow the images to be posted here if they, the police, feel that it would be helpful.
Also, PPRuNe admin would require an assurance that the airfield and businesses at Popham want the links to the CCTV recordings to be posted here.
SD
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This is very bad news, because a lot of GA airfields have magically managed to avoid the attention of the local scum for decades. GA will change a great deal (costs will go up) if this sort of thing becomes trendy.
But I am suprised Popham cannot afford a night guard, for the amount of activity going on there.
Or at least a half-decent security system with auto-dial via GSM so it cannot be cut off. You cannot do a job like this in 5 minutes...
Also the joint was presumably cased so CCTV images of "visitors" from preceeding weeks can be matched against the pretty good facial shots obtained this time.
Any stuff nicked will be on Ebay soon enough. Recently I saw an avionics item on US Ebay (Ebay.com, not Ebay.co.uk which is near-useless for this stuff) and the instant I sent in a few "directed" questions about things like the serial number it vanished immediately
Or it will find its way onto the homebuilt market where it can be installed without hassle
But I am suprised Popham cannot afford a night guard, for the amount of activity going on there.
Or at least a half-decent security system with auto-dial via GSM so it cannot be cut off. You cannot do a job like this in 5 minutes...
Also the joint was presumably cased so CCTV images of "visitors" from preceeding weeks can be matched against the pretty good facial shots obtained this time.
Any stuff nicked will be on Ebay soon enough. Recently I saw an avionics item on US Ebay (Ebay.com, not Ebay.co.uk which is near-useless for this stuff) and the instant I sent in a few "directed" questions about things like the serial number it vanished immediately
Or it will find its way onto the homebuilt market where it can be installed without hassle
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I agree. I posted this on another forum:-
There is a subtle difference between theft, and vandalism.I was a bit surprised when the Popham event seemed to have both. A large degree of damage, coupled with some theft.
The local ned who pitches up, due to boredom, lack of education, lack of parental love and attention.........
Well, they generally are just looking to damage something, vent anger etc. The well drilled break in, where theft is the number one strategy, involves a different class of species. These guys, are in general, co-ordinated, a level above the general ned, and know what they are about. The security issues will change somewhat, dependent on what the airfield suffers from.
Plod are next to useless, being reactive, instead of proactive. Sometimes a call to the local, Private Security Company, may deliver more in the way of protection, and may nip the offending 'people shaped things' in the bud, however, it is always just a PITA.
The Popham events, and I am in no way an expert, and far removed from it, does appear to be a case of someone upsetting someone else, and are now paying for it, unfortunately, the business owners and aircraft owners, that is.
There is a subtle difference between theft, and vandalism.I was a bit surprised when the Popham event seemed to have both. A large degree of damage, coupled with some theft.
The local ned who pitches up, due to boredom, lack of education, lack of parental love and attention.........
Well, they generally are just looking to damage something, vent anger etc. The well drilled break in, where theft is the number one strategy, involves a different class of species. These guys, are in general, co-ordinated, a level above the general ned, and know what they are about. The security issues will change somewhat, dependent on what the airfield suffers from.
Plod are next to useless, being reactive, instead of proactive. Sometimes a call to the local, Private Security Company, may deliver more in the way of protection, and may nip the offending 'people shaped things' in the bud, however, it is always just a PITA.
The Popham events, and I am in no way an expert, and far removed from it, does appear to be a case of someone upsetting someone else, and are now paying for it, unfortunately, the business owners and aircraft owners, that is.
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OK, lots of supposition going on here with very little fact to back it up.
First comment:
Night Guard paid for on our £6 landing fee, very relaxed parking fees for visitors and our cheapest fuel (plus or minus 1p) in the country. .... yep, loads of spare cash in a country that has had more than normal rainfall for most of this year. Pray tell what you base Popham's turnover assessments on?
Or 'Half Decent Security System'. What the hell does that mean, Sharks with fricking lasers?
To begin with no one at Popham is going to discuss the security arrangements with anyone that is not in the loop. The FACT is there has been an arrest and it is from first line security triggered last Sunday. Forgive us if we do not mention the systems that were also triggered.
Sir George,
Not really, it is a well known pattern that another attempt is often made after the first as 1) the ground has been surveyed and 2) some of the kit has been replaced or 3) there was more than we thought
Doesn't a pattern have to have more than two elements? Otherwise it is just decorative binary
Maxred
Agreed. Basingstoke is a town that has a lot of Class A drug abuse, there is more in other local towns. That does add a certain 'random' element into crime. It is not a classic 'countryside' crime.
The 'plod' that spent from 8;00 to 17:00 and possibly more ( I had left) were far from useless. A lot of work was done and evidence collected. Oh, they got an arrest or two as well. They fitted that in between bouts of uselessness.
Private Security Company? You pay, we will tell them where to sit.
It is true, you are in no way an expert, sorry to appear rude but what do you base this on?. Where does all this 'popham upsets everyone stuff come from?' We have very good relations with neighbours and do whatever we can to accomodate them. Does anyone know here what proactive work we do?........anyone?...... mmmmmmm....silence here........
There was a thread on here a few weeks back from someone that took offence to something. If we have gone for 25+ years and that is the only complaining thread then we have not done too badly, especially when, in my opinion, the original posters argument held no water. His actions (going public before a proper attempt to speak to the airfield manager) were unnecessary and badly done. The fact that people sprang to his defence, just seemed to show people jumping on a perceived bandwagon.
Now a few points of interest.
Popham generally has very good relations with people, we just prefer it that way. There are occasional transgressions of sense and they are dealt with sensibly. One day over a beer I will tell you how I refused to allow the RAF to issue a testiclectomy to a pilot who bust through our circuit at less than circuit height. There was no point, no one would have gained anything and they did not do it again so, right course of action. It made sure we were maked on his maps!
There have been comments on here and on Flyer about Popham's security. If you have ever been burgaled (heave forbid) and have had a visit from Crime Prevention, you are told that if someone wants to get into your house, they will. Regardless. What you can do is try to dissaude them.
Clearly I am not going to go into any detail about Popham's pre-existing security but one point, Popham has a gate. It also borders on open country and probably has close to five miles of boundaries. No one is ever likely to come in through the gate.
We got broken into, but the security has worked. The last 8 days have not been fun and they have been expensive. Most, if not all, that was moved last night has been recovered, but a lot of us were doing stuff we preferred not to for most of today.
It is not nice to get break ins but it is not nice to have speculation and supposition. We actually have done pretty well with the first incident (admittedly 8 days long) in 25 years.
And, in between all of this, the work experience lad (Sam) was taken flying today. Free of charge on someone's goodwill as Popham has always tried to get kids interested. Good for that pilot, who will never get thanked publicly, but that is what is important.
Popham is a great airfield. Come and visit us. And please stop talking about our security. It is none of your business unless you come through the fence (Hungarian Lorry drivers who lose control excepted).
First comment:
But I am suprised Popham cannot afford a night guard, for the amount of activity going on there.
Or at least a half-decent security system with auto-dial via GSM so it cannot be cut off. You cannot do a job like this in 5 minutes...
Or at least a half-decent security system with auto-dial via GSM so it cannot be cut off. You cannot do a job like this in 5 minutes...
Or 'Half Decent Security System'. What the hell does that mean, Sharks with fricking lasers?
To begin with no one at Popham is going to discuss the security arrangements with anyone that is not in the loop. The FACT is there has been an arrest and it is from first line security triggered last Sunday. Forgive us if we do not mention the systems that were also triggered.
Sir George,
It's beginning to feel a lot like a vendetta
Doesn't a pattern have to have more than two elements? Otherwise it is just decorative binary
Maxred
There is a subtle difference between theft, and vandalism.I was a bit surprised when the Popham event seemed to have both. A large degree of damage, coupled with some theft.
Plod are next to useless, being reactive, instead of proactive. Sometimes a call to the local, Private Security Company, may deliver more in the way of protection, and may nip the offending 'people shaped things' in the bud, however, it is always just a PITA.
Private Security Company? You pay, we will tell them where to sit.
The Popham events, and I am in no way an expert, and far removed from it, does appear to be a case of someone upsetting someone else, and are now paying for it, unfortunately, the business owners and aircraft owners, that is.
There was a thread on here a few weeks back from someone that took offence to something. If we have gone for 25+ years and that is the only complaining thread then we have not done too badly, especially when, in my opinion, the original posters argument held no water. His actions (going public before a proper attempt to speak to the airfield manager) were unnecessary and badly done. The fact that people sprang to his defence, just seemed to show people jumping on a perceived bandwagon.
Now a few points of interest.
Popham generally has very good relations with people, we just prefer it that way. There are occasional transgressions of sense and they are dealt with sensibly. One day over a beer I will tell you how I refused to allow the RAF to issue a testiclectomy to a pilot who bust through our circuit at less than circuit height. There was no point, no one would have gained anything and they did not do it again so, right course of action. It made sure we were maked on his maps!
There have been comments on here and on Flyer about Popham's security. If you have ever been burgaled (heave forbid) and have had a visit from Crime Prevention, you are told that if someone wants to get into your house, they will. Regardless. What you can do is try to dissaude them.
Clearly I am not going to go into any detail about Popham's pre-existing security but one point, Popham has a gate. It also borders on open country and probably has close to five miles of boundaries. No one is ever likely to come in through the gate.
We got broken into, but the security has worked. The last 8 days have not been fun and they have been expensive. Most, if not all, that was moved last night has been recovered, but a lot of us were doing stuff we preferred not to for most of today.
It is not nice to get break ins but it is not nice to have speculation and supposition. We actually have done pretty well with the first incident (admittedly 8 days long) in 25 years.
And, in between all of this, the work experience lad (Sam) was taken flying today. Free of charge on someone's goodwill as Popham has always tried to get kids interested. Good for that pilot, who will never get thanked publicly, but that is what is important.
Popham is a great airfield. Come and visit us. And please stop talking about our security. It is none of your business unless you come through the fence (Hungarian Lorry drivers who lose control excepted).