And so it goes on

[Blaze]

You could note everything carefully, dates, times, names etc, details of conversations. When you contacted the gendarmerie, did they take a statement from you ? They should at least have taken a "main courante" which is a sort of register of complaints from the public.
Ideally, you should go to the gendarmerie and say you have new information to add to what you gave them before.
You never know, but they may well already have info on "JV" and the koi shop.

Some people on this forum denigrate Facebook, but clearly they have no idea of the good it can do. The police/gendarmerie use it in Brittany (and doubtless elsewhere) to display missing persons, for example, and many have been found thanks to the word being spread on FB. Same for lost dogs, cats etc. Local groups can be very useful for giving information on local events, new businesses, local support groups, etc but also for warning people of thefts in the area.

Like so many things, it's not the "instrument" that is the problem, it's the people that don't make the best use of it or who misuse it. I've used it for over 10 years and have never had a problem because I'm selective. Needless to say, I don't post personal details, family photos etc. My "friends" are only people I know and those I don't know cannot see my page or who my friends are. Yes, you can test for what others can see.
It's a choice and I see just as much personal info bandied about on forums, sometimes far more intimate/personal than I have ever seen on FB.

[hughnique]

Since last writing I have been to the Gendarmerie on 4 separate occasions, with supplementary information, the latest being that the Koi specialist outlet posted on their Facebook page that they had a big surprise when tidying one of their ponds, they found a lot of Koi which they had forgotten about, and were now offering them at 40% discount to personal customers. This absolutely stinks and the gendarmes agree with me on that point, but what are they doing about it, it appears sweet FA. I just do not know who to turn to, even the copper said that by the time they get to the Koi outlet they will have probably sold them all, and they won't have a clue which fish could be mine without me there to identify them. I have thought about going back and taking a peek, but I doubt I would be allowed entry, so the longer they take the worse it will be, I have just about given up on getting any of it back.

[Nomoss]

Don't you have photos of your fish?

[hughnique]

I have a video taken by a friend but as you can imagine I think it was at feeding time, however there are some recognisable images on it. More than that I would be looking at any air pumps with UK plugs on then, and of course makes such as I had with English writing on them

[Blaze]

Keep an eye out on Le Bon Coin - you may find the air pumps on there. They may well have changed the plugs (if they've even thought about it ...)

[hughnique]

If they have changed the plugs then it provides better proof that they are stolen, why change a plug, damaged or defunct, most appliances have come with a molded plug for many years, in the country of sale, as were these air pumps, so to see a nice new French plug on an English produced product not normally sold on the French market seems a little strange.