Legalities of stealing your own property back?
Discussion
t the thiefI had some diving kit recovered by the police. I had forgotten to take a bag out of my boot containing my regulators, computers, and a few other items. That night somebody got into the boot and nicked them.
Stuff like that is difficult to shift, because most divers can spot a chav trying to sell kit they don't have a clue about, and there are a few forums to report suspected stolen gear.
I emailed all the dive shops in the area and asked them to be on the lookout. The following day, a local dive shop rang me and said somebody had been trying to offload kit matching my description, and that they had a photo of the car they arrived in.
A couple of minutes later, I had a call from the police saying they would be knocking on a door that evening. Later in the evening, they called again, wanting to get a statement. The sergeant came quite late that evening with a bag containing half of the kit. He said he knew who had the rest and would be going to see them the following day. In the end, I was reunited with my kit.
I wasn't expecting this result, and I was very impressed with the police response. The sergeant was very grateful to me as well. He said that when they visited, they had some other stuff they shouldn't have. He wouldn't go into detail, but he said it was a great result.
It is easy to say the police won't be interested in the OP's case, but if he doesn't tell report it, they will definitely not be able to help.
Stuff like that is difficult to shift, because most divers can spot a chav trying to sell kit they don't have a clue about, and there are a few forums to report suspected stolen gear.
I emailed all the dive shops in the area and asked them to be on the lookout. The following day, a local dive shop rang me and said somebody had been trying to offload kit matching my description, and that they had a photo of the car they arrived in.
A couple of minutes later, I had a call from the police saying they would be knocking on a door that evening. Later in the evening, they called again, wanting to get a statement. The sergeant came quite late that evening with a bag containing half of the kit. He said he knew who had the rest and would be going to see them the following day. In the end, I was reunited with my kit.
I wasn't expecting this result, and I was very impressed with the police response. The sergeant was very grateful to me as well. He said that when they visited, they had some other stuff they shouldn't have. He wouldn't go into detail, but he said it was a great result.
It is easy to say the police won't be interested in the OP's case, but if he doesn't tell report it, they will definitely not be able to help.
NinjaPower said:
+1
I have been amazed at how many theft cases they can't be arsed with.
A mate had his car stolen from a bodyshop where it was at as it needed some work, and according to the police it was 'a civil matter' and they wouldn't do anything
Yep, a friend got burgled on holiday - laptop, expensive bottles of wine stolen - but no signs of entry. On questioning his cleaner it turned out that she had let her dodgy boyfriend in on several occasions to sit in the flat whilst she cleaned it. He also had access to her keys...I have been amazed at how many theft cases they can't be arsed with.
A mate had his car stolen from a bodyshop where it was at as it needed some work, and according to the police it was 'a civil matter' and they wouldn't do anything
Police view was...er...well they could go round and check him out but its really a bit much effort. We suggested we would go and have a word and all of a sudden they brightened right up and suggested they would like to arrest us if we went round to his place.
Had the same with a stolen bicycle - no interest despite it being located locked to railings a few hours later next to a train station. Suggested that since they weren't prepared to attend we would wait and make a citizen's arrest - again; we'll arrest you for breach of peace if you do. However they were happy with us cutting the bike free and taking it away.
Had the same when a friend had quad bike stolen from his farm - could see it in a traveller camp...police said to just go through insurance - he said; no I'm going in to take it...well if you do Sir we will have to try to stop you...
Marvellous!
I had similar about 3 years ago, garage was broken in to and a lot of rare, old, unusual wheels and other parts were stolen.
As they were rare and old, I knew they would show up on the internet, and sure enough they did.
From one advert and a mobile number, I put the info back in to google, searched Facebook and any forum where the sellers names showed up.
I basically found 8 people, all selling bits on various forums, documented everything with photos, dates bought, descriptions and identifying features, and gave the lot to the police.
They were both brilliant and useless in equal measure
I had arranged to meet one of the scrotes to see the wheels and asked the police to attend.
Instead they gave them a 6am door knock, and nothing was to be found!
They accepted all of my evidence, and used it but as they didn't admit the actual thefts, and nothing was found, they couldn't actually pin anything on them.
The police said they knew they were "wronguns" but couldn't prove it, so all info would be kept on record in case anything else ever cropped up.
I still kept an eye on the various websites, and about 4 months later another batch of stuff turned up, and this time they managed to arrest another couple of different people, getting the goods back and actually getting a conviction!
The police then got bored of the whole thing and moved on to other things, but I still know where some of my parts are, and do keep an eye out for the bits.
It turns out, in my opinion, the first two arrested are in to bigger things, no visible income and £100k cars, so I think it is possibly for the best that I didn't actually try to get my bits back myself.
As they were rare and old, I knew they would show up on the internet, and sure enough they did.
From one advert and a mobile number, I put the info back in to google, searched Facebook and any forum where the sellers names showed up.
I basically found 8 people, all selling bits on various forums, documented everything with photos, dates bought, descriptions and identifying features, and gave the lot to the police.
They were both brilliant and useless in equal measure
I had arranged to meet one of the scrotes to see the wheels and asked the police to attend.
Instead they gave them a 6am door knock, and nothing was to be found!
They accepted all of my evidence, and used it but as they didn't admit the actual thefts, and nothing was found, they couldn't actually pin anything on them.
The police said they knew they were "wronguns" but couldn't prove it, so all info would be kept on record in case anything else ever cropped up.
I still kept an eye on the various websites, and about 4 months later another batch of stuff turned up, and this time they managed to arrest another couple of different people, getting the goods back and actually getting a conviction!
The police then got bored of the whole thing and moved on to other things, but I still know where some of my parts are, and do keep an eye out for the bits.
It turns out, in my opinion, the first two arrested are in to bigger things, no visible income and £100k cars, so I think it is possibly for the best that I didn't actually try to get my bits back myself.
Ganglandboss said:
I had some diving kit recovered by the police. I had forgotten to take a bag out of my boot containing my regulators, computers, and a few other items. That night somebody got into the boot and nicked them.
Stuff like that is difficult to shift, because most divers can spot a chav trying to sell kit they don't have a clue about, and there are a few forums to report suspected stolen gear.
I emailed all the dive shops in the area and asked them to be on the lookout. The following day, a local dive shop rang me and said somebody had been trying to offload kit matching my description, and that they had a photo of the car they arrived in.
A couple of minutes later, I had a call from the police saying they would be knocking on a door that evening. Later in the evening, they called again, wanting to get a statement. The sergeant came quite late that evening with a bag containing half of the kit. He said he knew who had the rest and would be going to see them the following day. In the end, I was reunited with my kit.
I wasn't expecting this result, and I was very impressed with the police response. The sergeant was very grateful to me as well. He said that when they visited, they had some other stuff they shouldn't have. He wouldn't go into detail, but he said it was a great result.
It is easy to say the police won't be interested in the OP's case, but if he doesn't tell report it, they will definitely not be able to help.
The problem is that before you contact the Police, you don't know whether doing so will be a help of whether you're just shooting yourself in the foot (if they subsequently do nothing but give you grief for sorting it yourself).Stuff like that is difficult to shift, because most divers can spot a chav trying to sell kit they don't have a clue about, and there are a few forums to report suspected stolen gear.
I emailed all the dive shops in the area and asked them to be on the lookout. The following day, a local dive shop rang me and said somebody had been trying to offload kit matching my description, and that they had a photo of the car they arrived in.
A couple of minutes later, I had a call from the police saying they would be knocking on a door that evening. Later in the evening, they called again, wanting to get a statement. The sergeant came quite late that evening with a bag containing half of the kit. He said he knew who had the rest and would be going to see them the following day. In the end, I was reunited with my kit.
I wasn't expecting this result, and I was very impressed with the police response. The sergeant was very grateful to me as well. He said that when they visited, they had some other stuff they shouldn't have. He wouldn't go into detail, but he said it was a great result.
It is easy to say the police won't be interested in the OP's case, but if he doesn't tell report it, they will definitely not be able to help.
Make arrangements to view the wheels , if they are yours and he's to big to argue with tell him they are not what your looking for and leave , you can always return mob handed later , or return with the police .
If your going to take them back yourself just make sure you suss out how many other people are likely to be there and how easy it is to get in and out quickly , where you will be parked outside to load the wheels first .
If your going to take them back yourself just make sure you suss out how many other people are likely to be there and how easy it is to get in and out quickly , where you will be parked outside to load the wheels first .
Clivey said:
Ganglandboss said:
I had some diving kit recovered by the police. I had forgotten to take a bag out of my boot containing my regulators, computers, and a few other items. That night somebody got into the boot and nicked them.
Stuff like that is difficult to shift, because most divers can spot a chav trying to sell kit they don't have a clue about, and there are a few forums to report suspected stolen gear.
I emailed all the dive shops in the area and asked them to be on the lookout. The following day, a local dive shop rang me and said somebody had been trying to offload kit matching my description, and that they had a photo of the car they arrived in.
A couple of minutes later, I had a call from the police saying they would be knocking on a door that evening. Later in the evening, they called again, wanting to get a statement. The sergeant came quite late that evening with a bag containing half of the kit. He said he knew who had the rest and would be going to see them the following day. In the end, I was reunited with my kit.
I wasn't expecting this result, and I was very impressed with the police response. The sergeant was very grateful to me as well. He said that when they visited, they had some other stuff they shouldn't have. He wouldn't go into detail, but he said it was a great result.
It is easy to say the police won't be interested in the OP's case, but if he doesn't tell report it, they will definitely not be able to help.
The problem is that before you contact the Police, you don't know whether doing so will be a help of whether you're just shooting yourself in the foot (if they subsequently do nothing but give you grief for sorting it yourself).Stuff like that is difficult to shift, because most divers can spot a chav trying to sell kit they don't have a clue about, and there are a few forums to report suspected stolen gear.
I emailed all the dive shops in the area and asked them to be on the lookout. The following day, a local dive shop rang me and said somebody had been trying to offload kit matching my description, and that they had a photo of the car they arrived in.
A couple of minutes later, I had a call from the police saying they would be knocking on a door that evening. Later in the evening, they called again, wanting to get a statement. The sergeant came quite late that evening with a bag containing half of the kit. He said he knew who had the rest and would be going to see them the following day. In the end, I was reunited with my kit.
I wasn't expecting this result, and I was very impressed with the police response. The sergeant was very grateful to me as well. He said that when they visited, they had some other stuff they shouldn't have. He wouldn't go into detail, but he said it was a great result.
It is easy to say the police won't be interested in the OP's case, but if he doesn't tell report it, they will definitely not be able to help.
Ganglandboss said:
I couldn't have done anything without the police, as I don't have access to the PNC. The morons were identified by their car registration when they tried to offload the stolen kit.
Yes; in your situation, happily they came through for you. 
I have a mixed experience with the Police; sometimes they've been brilliant, at others they've been unhelpful or needlessly obstructive. Sometimes it's just luck of the draw, frustratingly!
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