What happens when your car is stolen...
Discussion
Well it's definitely not an emergency. Is it?
Here's the story: a Saturday afternoon in Luton. I was working at an industrial estate with a large car park. For various reasons, I'd taken my girlfriend's MX-5, and had to leave it some distance away, near the entrance to the estate. It was parked next to a Skoda estate, and still in sight.
Which was fortunate, because one of my colleagues noticed a group of about five kids handing round the MX-5, looking inside it etc. Naturally, I went to see what they were up to. The oldest was about 13, the youngest probably nine or ten; they gave me the, 'Nice car,' routine. Fine. I moved the car anyway.
About ten minutes later, we saw the Skoda estate go past. It was being driven by one of the aforementioned kids, and a window had been smashed.
So I jumped into the Mazda and followed the Skoda deeper into the industrial estate. There, the kids drove round in circles, bashed into walls and generally struggled to drive the thing.
Meanwhile, one of my colleagues phoned the police. Can you guess what happened?
He was shouted at for phoning 999, and told, 'It's hardly an emergency, is it!' The operator wouldn't take any details, and said he should phone the local police. Which isn't very easy when you don't even have their number.
In the end, we all went home. We left the kids where they were, gradually trashing what was probably someone's only form of transport. Maybe, with a bit of luck, all the kids hurt themselves, without injuring any members of the public.
Unless, of course, they later went for a drive on public roads at 1mph above the speed limit. They'd've surely been caught for that.
Here's the story: a Saturday afternoon in Luton. I was working at an industrial estate with a large car park. For various reasons, I'd taken my girlfriend's MX-5, and had to leave it some distance away, near the entrance to the estate. It was parked next to a Skoda estate, and still in sight.
Which was fortunate, because one of my colleagues noticed a group of about five kids handing round the MX-5, looking inside it etc. Naturally, I went to see what they were up to. The oldest was about 13, the youngest probably nine or ten; they gave me the, 'Nice car,' routine. Fine. I moved the car anyway.
About ten minutes later, we saw the Skoda estate go past. It was being driven by one of the aforementioned kids, and a window had been smashed.
So I jumped into the Mazda and followed the Skoda deeper into the industrial estate. There, the kids drove round in circles, bashed into walls and generally struggled to drive the thing.
Meanwhile, one of my colleagues phoned the police. Can you guess what happened?
He was shouted at for phoning 999, and told, 'It's hardly an emergency, is it!' The operator wouldn't take any details, and said he should phone the local police. Which isn't very easy when you don't even have their number.
In the end, we all went home. We left the kids where they were, gradually trashing what was probably someone's only form of transport. Maybe, with a bit of luck, all the kids hurt themselves, without injuring any members of the public.
Unless, of course, they later went for a drive on public roads at 1mph above the speed limit. They'd've surely been caught for that.
No need for the police to bother with this really.
The owner will report it stolen, it will probably be found trashed or burned out eventually. An insurance claim will be lodged for the damage. The insurance company pays out and next time around charges everybody else as well as the owner higher insurance premiums.
Can you guess where this is going? Yes Insurance Premium Tax is higher since the insurance is higher - wehey the Government wins again!!!!
The owner will report it stolen, it will probably be found trashed or burned out eventually. An insurance claim will be lodged for the damage. The insurance company pays out and next time around charges everybody else as well as the owner higher insurance premiums.
Can you guess where this is going? Yes Insurance Premium Tax is higher since the insurance is higher - wehey the Government wins again!!!!
Spoonman said:
Unless, of course, they later went for a drive on public roads at 1mph above the speed limit. They'd've surely been caught for that.
Not really. The kids haven't got the money for the fine so they still wouldn't have turned up.
You should have told them a Ferrari being driven by an exec was doing 35mph round the estate... they would have scrambled the helicopter.
voyds9 said:
I think its about time we had a national non-emergency number. You see them on the side of police cars 0845 *** **** but who can remember it.
Saw a mattress on the M1 the other day, not an emergency but over one hour away from a phone book with local number in.
[cynicmodeon]
Actually, I think it should be re-named the "we're not fooking interested, go away and stop bothering us" number. So there's really no need to bother remembering it (which obviously no one can anyway, so it can be judged a success).
The only thing that happens with calls to the "non-emergency" number is that they are added to the particular force's crime stats which are then used to justify the need for additional funding, which is generated by means of...you guessed it, more speed cameras.
Unfortunately there isn't a "cynic mode off" command
I remember hearing a good story somewhere about a bloke in the US who phoned the local police to tell them that his garden shed (do they have those in the US?) was being burgled. The 911 operator told him that there were no available units but they'd send someone around later to ascertain what had been taken. The bloke leaves it a couple of minutes then phones the police back and tells them not to bother coming around after all as he's shot the burglars dead. Within five minutes there's several squad cars on his drive and said burglars are arrested. The head BiB turns to the bloke and says "I thought you said you'd killed them" to which he replied " I thought you said you weren't coming".
It's probably one of those urban myths but it does make you think. Although in this country you'd probably get arrested for wasting police time and the scally's would ask to borrow one of the BiB's torches so they could better see what they were nicking!
It's probably one of those urban myths but it does make you think. Although in this country you'd probably get arrested for wasting police time and the scally's would ask to borrow one of the BiB's torches so they could better see what they were nicking!
A recently stolen vehicle with witnesses is treated as a code 1 job in my force, helicopter etc etc.
I find it amazing that any Police force would deal the way in which was stated.
If true, put a complaint in. It isnt good enough.
Not me ranting, but genuinely amazed, I have lost count of the number of stovecs I and other officers have pursued, and caught offenders from.
I find it amazing that any Police force would deal the way in which was stated.
If true, put a complaint in. It isnt good enough.
Not me ranting, but genuinely amazed, I have lost count of the number of stovecs I and other officers have pursued, and caught offenders from.
voyds9 said:
I think its about time we had a national non-emergency number. You see them on the side of police cars 0845 *** **** but who can remember it.
Saw a mattress on the M1 the other day, not an emergency but over one hour away from a phone book with local number in.
If you'd said that the mattress overtook you doing well over the ton dialling 999 wouldn't have been a problem.
Sorry, couldn't resist
silverback mike said:
And for Gods sake, stop slagging off PC's and other front line officers who like nothing better than locking thieving gits up.
Armchair experts and policy makers make me want to
Hope this isn't directed at me. My gripe is with the control room staff (who I know are usually civilians and little more than jumped-up doctors' receptionists), not BiBs.
As it happens, I had a car of my own stolen about five years ago. Our dogs were barking, we looked outside and the car was gone. Phoned the police, who came out immediately because it was a crime in progress. They took a description of the car, then went for a drive round the surrounding countryside. Where they saw my car being caned by scrotes.
So the cops gave chase but couldn't keep up. They found my car buried in a wall after the toerags couldn't manage the tight bend. Running away were four yoofs with my possessions stuffed in their pockets. My car was a write-off.
In court, their brief reckoned they'd seen my car crash then raided it for my stuff, all within the ten second before the police caught up. And, of course, the CPS accepted this bullshit because it made their work easier.
My point is, er, control room staff and the CPS are w@nk. As are the policies laid out from some governmental little nobody. The blame has to rest somewhere because things certainly ain't getting any better.
silverback mike said:
And for Gods sake, stop slagging off PC's and other front line officers who like nothing better than locking thieving gits up.
Armchair experts and policy makers make me want to
Its interesting to hear the "other side" but I know quite a few people who have had cars stolen broken Into and various thefts etc and my own son who was assaulted (caught on cctv, waste of money that is) and how many convictions? NONE.
Spoonman said:
And for Gods sake, stop slagging off PC's and other front line officers who like nothing better than locking thieving gits up.
Armchair experts and policy makers make me want to
Hope this isn't directed at me. My gripe is with the control room staff (who I know are usually civilians and little more than jumped-up doctors' receptionists), not BiBs.
As it happens, I had a car of my own stolen about five years ago. Our dogs were barking, we looked outside and the car was gone. Phoned the police, who came out immediately because it was a crime in progress. They took a description of the car, then went for a drive round the surrounding countryside. Where they saw my car being caned by scrotes.
So the cops gave chase but couldn't keep up. They found my car buried in a wall after the toerags couldn't manage the tight bend. Running away were four yoofs with my possessions stuffed in their pockets. My car was a write-off.
In court, their brief reckoned they'd seen my car crash then raided it for my stuff, all within the ten second before the police caught up. And, of course, the CPS accepted this bullshit because it made their work easier.
My point is, er, control room staff and the CPS are w@nk. As are the policies laid out from some governmental little nobody. The blame has to rest somewhere because things certainly ain't getting any better.
Certainly not directed at you, apologies if it looked that way.
Your views are shared by myself, and I agree, the response you were given was a waste of space. However, it gets bloody frustrating our end too.
Mike.:cheers:
As has been said it's bl**dy ridiculous that the 999 call centre staff would call a crime in progress (TWOC, criminal damage, driving without a license and insurance, underage driving plus whatever else could be used) is not a emergency call. I would definately write to the Chief Constable of the force concerned.
It wouldn't surprise me if the is a recording (certainly should be a record) of the call.
It wouldn't surprise me if the is a recording (certainly should be a record) of the call.
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