WHEN PEOPLE STOP CRIME

Ok, it may not be the greatest unlawful act of the century, but barrel theft is a crime
Remember that people.

I got up at 6.45 and went into the room where I keep my bar towels which over looks the back yard.
A big white van reversed in to the space behind the pub. I figured they were working at the Senior Citizens hall but just watched to check.

Next news 2 men get out, open the back and start loading my empty barrels on it.

This is not good you understand cos we pay a deposit on them, so I ran down stairs and went through the fire exit that backs onto the roof. I shout "excuse me" a few times, I'm ignored. So I shout "Oi, what the hell do you think you are doing?" and go down tyhe stairs and out the gate.
There I see these two 40 odd year old Stoke Pikeys loading my barrels on to their empty van.
"We're builders duck, we just want to borrow them for our scaffolding".

Now I don't know shit about building and scaffolding but I have never seen any supported by different shaped barrels. I told them this, I also pointed out how you don't just take stuff without asking and made them take them off the wagon.

They did and drove off. The reg was RK05 something, Im pissed off with myself that I didn't write it down, I'm pissed off with myself that I didn't shout at them or get more angry. It wasn't until they had gone that I got annoyed.

This happened to me before.

About 7 years ago I was sat upstairs painting a table watching Home and Away. I heard the fire exit door close shut (its private). I waited to see if it was the useless man I was going out with at the time, Mark, back from work early - skiving as per usual. No one came around the corner so I went to look. I remember thinking to myself 'wouldn't it be funny if there was a stranger standing there?' and sure as eggs are eggs (never did get that) there one was. I asked him what he was doing, he gave me some story about how he was here to collect scrap. I told him to get out and he did. He had two mates sat on the fire escape as look outs. I bravely (ha ha, yeah right) gave him the finger as he walked away. Again, there I didn't get that angry until they had left.

I think I need to shout more.