h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

On Wednesday morning, my local nature reserve's portacabin got broken into. We've been working really hard to turn a dump into a proper heathfield for two years now, and just as we're getting somewhere a load of our work gets trashed. We've had parts of the (temporary) visitor centre trashed, all our tools stolen, even a set of three paintbrushes worth £3 new nicked. It's awful.

All the stuff, only £200 worth, will get sold on at car boot sales and fleamarkets across the county. These people were professionals, knew what to bring, how to get access (violently) and took everything with any value at all.

Have just found out, and absolutely gutted.

B*****ds

How awful . I just don't understand the mentality of these people.

and try to focus on the great job you're all doing, despite these mindless vandals.

It took us six months to get rid of these w.... w.... ..people who like to pleasure their manhood.... and now there's a few little incidents going on that make you really worried. We're just waiting for someone with a can of petrol and a grudge

helps though,

*sighs*

Small minded people!

Have you been in touch with the police? Although probably not much they can (or will) do, I suppose...

Yes, we have been but there's not a lot they can do really - I don't think they'll re-allocate resources to allow undercover officers to scour the car boot sales

No probably not... I was thinking more of what you were saying about a few little incidents and wondering whether they were all being carried out by the same person or group.

Could be; we've had the occasional off-road motorbike on site (they got banned because they tore up the heath and we nearly lost the site, turned to dust), and they obviously bear a grudge. We've had them reported to police by locals occasionally but if the police turn up on one side of the site, the bikers nip off the other.

It seems this job was done by pros though; I can't see the bikers breaking in just because they don't like us. They would have needed some planning and the right gear to get in how they did. Hardly seems worth it for a few blunt old woodsaws, though....

That's what I find a bit worrying - unless the portacabin looked like the kind of place you'd find a load of expensive computer stuff (which they don't usually!), I don't see why anyone would want to break in. It looks more like they had a reason for wanting to disrupt your project rather than just steal stuff. Reminds me of when I was at primary school and vandals broke in twice and destroyed a load of our stuff - books, drawings, records - nothing valuable. They just wanted to cause havoc.

I really don't understand people...

To be honest, we're all quite nervous about what's going to happen next. These little incidents are building and the theft of £3 of paintbrushes could be interpreted as desperation or nastiness.

>I really don't understand people..

I think I do at times but to give my true feelings would result in a definite 'yikes'