Lock it or lose it...
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"Lock it or lose it" blared a recent campaign by the Metropolitan Police to ensure that private motorists made sure that their cars did not get taken and driven away._ Private motorists, we say, because our public undertakings display a remarkably sanguine attitude towards losing their buses. After all, who would want to pinch a double-decker, you may ask?
Indeed, there is little resale prospect for a stolen Routemaster. But this does not prevent taking and driving away for the hell of it. This is a problem which Bristol Omnibus faced up to some time ago after it had had an unacceptable number of buses stolen after pub closing time. It specified all its VRT3 buses with ignition keys, and since then has had no runaways.
Would that the same could be said for the mighty London Transport!
LT's antiquated fleet and chronic staff shortages have meant that its buses are frequently left unattended and unlocked in unsupervised bus-stands — despite regular protests from the men's union.
One of C/141's staff members lives in a street where there is exactly one such bus-stand, and he has frequently telephoned LT to warn them that eight-yearolds were climbing into the
cab of unattended buses and successfully starting them.
Imagine then, his dismay on returning from holiday to find that a slightly more capable driver had indeed succeeded in driving away a Routemaster — but not before demolishing our staffman's private car, parked outside his home.
LT's David Guarmby was contacted, but in his reply pointed out that it was impossible to run a bus service with ignition keys which might get lost. He added that he hoped our man was comprehensively insured, as LT could accept no responsibility.
Needless to say, our man's insurance was third party.