Bristol thieves steal double-decker bus
A classic double-decker bus used for events around the country has been stolen from a Bristol yard.
The AEC Leyland Routemaster was taken from a locked yard belonging to Bristol Film and Television Services.
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It had been used by Radio One DJ Chris Moyles for an event in 2005, decked out to promote Alton Towers attractions and hired by the Chicago Rock Cafe.
Owner Stuart Reed had more big plans for the bus, which he was keeping at the lock-up off Feeder Road, St Phillips, behind Western Power Distribution.
It was awaiting an MOT so it could be taken to Brighton – where Mr Reed now lives – and relaunched in the new year with the help of marketing company Fatmog and the bus's former owner John Mason.
Stuart, 28, who lived in Nover's Hill, Knowle, until last week, said: "I'm absolutely gutted. We had big plans for the future. It's become quite a famous bus and has been used all over the country.
"I went to the yard last Wednesday to do some work on it – it needs an MOT – but it was blocked in by some other vehicles. When I went back on Thursday I was told it had been stolen."
The bus went missing some time between 2pm last Wednesday and 11am last Thursday. The registration is 799 UXA and the bus ID is RM1305.
Mr Reed says he tried three times at Trinity Road police station and twice by phone, between Thursday and Saturday, to get Avon and Somerset police to investigate it as a theft. But there were initially issues over who owned the bus.
Mr Reed said: "I'm very disappointed because the police also informed me that if the bus is found, I'm going to be liable for the recovery costs. I've been told most of the time insurance will cover it but as it didn't have an MOT, it wasn't insured."
Avon and Somerset police spokeswoman Cath Foster said: "Police do not have the facilities to store stolen vehicles. We therefore use our contractor – Hintons – to recover and store them safely until they are collected. In nearly all cases, the cost of recovery and storage after a theft can be claimed back through the driver's insurance."
Anyone with information on the crime should call the stolen vehicle team on 0845 4567000, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
23 Comments
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by JJ, Bristol
Thursday, October 29 2009, 5:39PM
“HELP ...............
Build the stadium on the Bristol Arena Site and over the RIVEr to the """EYESORE"" Post Office Sorting Centre....
REGENERATE THAT AREA.......
ROAD - RAIL - RIVER - MOTORWAYS - HOTELS - BARS are ALREADY THERE.......
Build the stadium next to TEMPLE MEADS...!!!!!!!!”
by John, Gloucestershire
Thursday, October 29 2009, 4:58PM
“Unfortunately the bus was spotted by Police but when it went onto a bus lane the Police couldn't pursue because Daily Mail readers would have complained about a Police car using a bus lane.”
by Londoner, itw
Thursday, October 29 2009, 2:25PM
“Sometimes I travel from Sutton to the 'Green man' in putney, a few stops short of the entire route. Bus is the easiest, 23-minute option if you didn't want to do bus/tube/tube/ or train/bus combo. the latter involves 'First CapitalConnect' - you'll notice the 5-letter word - making it good reason to avoid it. If I'm on a bus for the entire journey, I'm also likely to be using a laptop, in which case an on-board bus tv is superfluous....”
by Inspector Blakey, The Cemetary Gates terminus
Thursday, October 29 2009, 2:06PM
“"If you travelled on route 93 North Cheam to Putney bridge, then you'd be glad for having an on-board TV for this 16 km journey."
I agree - but you don't do you?”
by Londoner, in the west
Thursday, October 29 2009, 1:59PM
“If you travelled on route 93 North Cheam to Putney bridge, then you'd be glad for having an on-board TV for this 16 km journey. Routemasters, which used to be on this were notoriously slow .
Now, modern buses run this in about half the time it used to take RMs. Partially, this is due to bus priorities and oystercards. If you ask regulars, they are likely to say it's a reliable service; exactly what they want. It also runs 24 hours. Go-Ahead London have done well.
Yes, RMs are definitely suited for Bristol's slow, time-wasting, unreliable public transport travel with clueless passengers...”