Conviction and Sentencing after Tuba Theft

Hi all,

As well as a Solo Cornet player, I'm also a local magistrate here in Sheffield. As part of that side of my life, I was in Sheffield Crown Court last week (observing) and an interesting case came up for sentencing.

A Tuba was stolen from Stanington Brass Band not too long ago as part of a spate of thefts in the owners area. The vast majority of items were recovered including the Tuba, which was pawned at Cash Converters for a total of £50 (Tuba valued at £4500).

Anyway, a middle aged male was convicted on 10 counts of receiving stolen goods and was sentenced to 4 years in prison.

I hope that gives some comfort to the band and to players, however please don't leave your instruments in cars overnight, or locked garages.

 

[/quote]please don't leave your instruments in cars overnight, or locked garages.[/quote]

Yes - because it will be YOUR fault if someone breaks in a steals something.....
Something not quite right here (NO I'm not an Express reader !!).

 

please don't leave your instruments in cars overnight, or locked garages.[/quote]

Yes - because it will be YOUR fault if someone breaks in a steals something.....
Something not quite right here (NO I'm not an Express reader !!).[/quote]

Leaving instruments in cars is pretty dumb though- especially when so many insurers don't cover instruments in unattended vehicles! :frown:

 

Quite a few instruments (some decent) appear in Cash Converters. Can the customer be prosecuted for reset as well?

 

No, that would be "receiving stolen goods", although probably you would just forfeit the goods. Can't imagine the police wanting to prosecute someone under those circumstances.

 

Cash converters - the Thiefs Cashpoint!

 

They now have their stock online ... http://www.cashgenerator.co.uk/wind-instruments

 

Yes - because it will be YOUR fault if someone breaks in a steals something.....
Something not quite right here (NO I'm not an Express reader !!).[/quote]

Leaving instruments in cars is pretty dumb though- especially when so many insurers don't cover instruments in unattended vehicles! :frown:[/quote]

My horn is covered on my house insurance as a valuable away from home and is covered when left in the car (not that i intend to leave it there for long periods) as long as it is not on view, in the boot etc!
I checked and got the insurance company to clarify specifically!
BUT please check with your own insurance company!

 

As a nosey retired police officer I always visit my local cash convertors and anyone else looking at their brass stock if they have some to sell. They know why I am there now so if I can catch em out....

 

My employers have informed me that my laptop is NOT insured if I leave it in my car overnight, I guess it is the same with band instruments

 

Usually known as Crack Converters in my neck of the woods.

 

Leaving instruments in cars is pretty dumb though- especially when so many insurers don't cover instruments in unattended vehicles! :frown:[/quote]

My horn is covered on my house insurance as a valuable away from home and is covered when left in the car (not that i intend to leave it there for long periods) as long as it is not on view, in the boot etc!
I checked and got the insurance company to clarify specifically!
BUT please check with your own insurance company![/quote]

Having worked as an underwriter in the insurance industry- believe me, I know the small print.

I did say 'so many insurers' I did not say all insurers- just a very significant proportion, and it's often depend on the value of the instrument. Relatively low value- especially if under your home insurance- is unlikely to be a problem. The more specialist your instrument, the more specialist the insurance and of course therefore the more you need the insurance, the less likely you'll find you're covered- unless you've been incredibly careful in your selection of the cover.

Besides, temperature variations affecting instruments the way they do, why leave it in the car anyway?

 

They should of sentenced the guy to 3 months of having to listen to the modern solo Tuba repertoire in a dark room. He would soon learn the error of his ways!!!

 

Hmm... "silver platted cornet"

 

please don't leave your instruments in cars overnight, or locked garages.[/quote]

Yes - because it will be YOUR fault if someone breaks in a steals something.....
Something not quite right here (NO I'm not an Express reader !!).[/QUOTE]

Of course it wouldn't be your fault, but if you were able to avoid the potential hassle and expense of weeks without an instrument, possibly losing money, constantly contacting insurance companies, and the thought of your old instrument now being part of a car bonnet being shipped in from China, you would, wouldn't you?

 

whats wrong wrong with old stuff for tuba ( Eb Bass ) like Carnival of Venice that I use to play when with brass bands in the 80,s

 

I've got my eye on the 'saxaphone'...

 

Might get the bagpipes for Hymn of the Highlands

 

I must admit I do wonder how much of the stuff in the shops and on the website is of dubious provenance. Sort of puts me off buying any of it - even if they did have something I wanted - to think that either it's been stolen or sold in total desperation by someone to feed their kids for a day or two really would take the pleasure out of owning whatever it was.

 

Somebody local to me bought a Xeno cornet for £65 in one of those shops recently. Whoever sold it to them had clearly not paid for it themselves or they would have known the true value.