Advice on whether to report a theft from a Main Dealer site.

Advice on whether to report a theft from a Main Dealer site.

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Discussion

McGee_22

Original Poster:

6,704 posts

179 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
Just after advice on whether to report a theft while our car was at a Main Dealer today.

The background is that our car was being serviced at a Main Dealer last week and my was fairly sure, but not certain, that a £2 coin had been taken from the ashtray where she keeps car-parking change. We couldn't say anything as we had no way of being absolutely sure but it just so happens they identified a piece of warranty work that required doing so it went back in today, so we counted each coin that was in the ashtray/cupholder.

On getting the car back three £1 coins were absent. We asked to speak to the Dealer Principle but he had gone home so his P.A. asked us to speak to the Service Manager. We reported the theft calmly and soberly, no kicking off or shouting and screaming, and he assured us he would be taking it seriously and speaking to the Principle/Business Manager tomorrow before addressing the staff together.

My question is, should I report it to the Police and register it to enable a crime number to be generated and perhaps flag it up if other customers have had the same experience?

I know it's only £3 but £3 a car, say 10 a day, five days a week is £600 a month someone is taking home, and how long before he gets greedy?

gazza285

9,806 posts

208 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
McGee_22 said:
Just after advice on whether to report a theft while our car was at a Main Dealer today.

The background is that our car was being serviced at a Main Dealer last week and my was fairly sure, but not certain, that a £2 coin had been taken from the ashtray where she keeps car-parking change. We couldn't say anything as we had no way of being absolutely sure but it just so happens they identified a piece of warranty work that required doing so it went back in today, so we counted each coin that was in the ashtray/cupholder.

On getting the car back three £1 coins were absent. We asked to speak to the Dealer Principle but he had gone home so his P.A. asked us to speak to the Service Manager. We reported the theft calmly and soberly, no kicking off or shouting and screaming, and he assured us he would be taking it seriously and speaking to the Principle/Business Manager tomorrow before addressing the staff together.

My question is, should I report it to the Police and register it to enable a crime number to be generated and perhaps flag it up if other customers have had the same experience?

I know it's only £3 but £3 a car, say 10 a day, five days a week is £600 a month someone is taking home, and how long before he gets greedy?
Take out the money next time?

Escy

3,922 posts

149 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
I feel like this might be trolling...

Nobody could seriously contact the Police over a £3 having gone missing.


dibblecorse

6,875 posts

192 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
McGee_22 said:
Just after advice on whether to report a theft while our car was at a Main Dealer today.

The background is that our car was being serviced at a Main Dealer last week and my was fairly sure, but not certain, that a £2 coin had been taken from the ashtray where she keeps car-parking change. We couldn't say anything as we had no way of being absolutely sure but it just so happens they identified a piece of warranty work that required doing so it went back in today, so we counted each coin that was in the ashtray/cupholder.

On getting the car back three £1 coins were absent. We asked to speak to the Dealer Principle but he had gone home so his P.A. asked us to speak to the Service Manager. We reported the theft calmly and soberly, no kicking off or shouting and screaming, and he assured us he would be taking it seriously and speaking to the Principle/Business Manager tomorrow before addressing the staff together.

My question is, should I report it to the Police and register it to enable a crime number to be generated and perhaps flag it up if other customers have had the same experience?

I know it's only £3 but £3 a car, say 10 a day, five days a week is £600 a month someone is taking home, and how long before he gets greedy?
You need more things to worry about in life if you're off to the Police over 3 quid.

stevensdrs

3,210 posts

200 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
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Police don't do petty theft anymore, too busy catching speeders and drug dealers. Leave it to the garage to sort it out.

robbieduncan

1,981 posts

236 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
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McGee_22 said:
not certain, that a £2 coin had

On getting the car back three £1 coins were absent
Which was it? I’d get my story straight before going to the Police.

McGee_22

Original Poster:

6,704 posts

179 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
At the risk of sounding like a grown up, it's the principle of the theft.

We're fortunate that £3 is nether here nor there to us at this time but someone is perhaps stealing anywhere between maybe a few hundred or close to a thousand pounds a month from customers cars.

All I was asking is whether to make the Police aware in case someone else has reported something more major or many people have had similar minor, even tiny thefts.



surveyor

17,811 posts

184 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
Wow. Just wow.

Tell the garage for their information.

Don’t waste the police time. I can’t imagine they would put much resource into looking into it in any case.

Bigends

5,415 posts

128 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
McGee_22 said:
At the risk of sounding like a grown up, it's the principle of the theft.

We're fortunate that £3 is nether here nor there to us at this time but someone is perhaps stealing anywhere between maybe a few hundred or close to a thousand pounds a month from customers cars.

All I was asking is whether to make the Police aware in case someone else has reported something more major or many people have had similar minor, even tiny thefts.
If you report it, the Police must record it. Whether anything will get done is a different matter, though it will flag up if there have been similar thefts at the garage.

S100HP

12,674 posts

167 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
McGee_22 said:
At the risk of sounding like a grown up, it's the principle of the theft.

We're fortunate that £3 is nether here nor there to us at this time but someone is perhaps stealing anywhere between maybe a few hundred or close to a thousand pounds a month from customers cars.

All I was asking is whether to make the Police aware in case someone else has reported something more major or many people have had similar minor, even tiny thefts.
You're assuming everyone leaves change in their cars. I don't.

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
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When thieves break into a motorbike dealership, stealing very expensive bikes and don't bother turning up, I really can't see this even being on the radar.

Connectors

226 posts

89 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
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robbieduncan said:
Which was it? I’d get my story straight before going to the Police.
I'd read his post properly before having a pop.


McGee_22

Original Poster:

6,704 posts

179 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
I'm not expecting anything at all to be done about our tiny loss but should there have been lots of other people reporting similar, or someone experiencing a major item go missing then perhaps someone might have a word with the Dealership.

To be honest, even after reporting to the Service Manager I'm not even expecting to hear from the Dealership again, even a letter to say sorry; but if everyone does nothing and no-one informs either the Dealership or perhaps the Police then the thefts will continue, perhaps not pennies but anything that is easy to pocket, nice sunglasses, nice pen and thieves become emboldened and make off with something of a higher value.

McGee_22

Original Poster:

6,704 posts

179 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
I'm not expecting anything at all to be done about our tiny loss but should there have been lots of other people reporting similar, or someone experiencing a major item go missing then perhaps someone might have a word with the Dealership.

To be honest, even after reporting to the Service Manager I'm not even expecting to hear from the Dealership again, even a letter to say sorry; but if everyone does nothing and no-one informs either the Dealership or perhaps the Police then the thefts will continue, perhaps not pennies but anything that is easy to pocket, nice sunglasses, nice pen and thieves become emboldened and make off with something of a higher value.

markyb_lcy

9,904 posts

62 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
I would use it as an opportunity to discover if this main dealer is worth your business (by judging how well they deal with it).

Other than that, I think going to the bill will just be a waste of your time and result in nothing.

elanfan

5,517 posts

227 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
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The Dealer Principal should be taking this very seriously indeed. Theft from customers could badly affect their reputation - imagine if you put this in a review or on their Facebook page. One thing that would be interesting is if the same technician worked on your car each time. The garage should have records or CCTV (some garages the valeters move the cars in and out so could be them they’re the lowest paid too!) make sure you ask if they’ve had any similar complaints. Someone should be getting sacked over this!

paintman

7,683 posts

190 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
By all means report it to the Police.
TBH I'm surprised that having already suspected a theft you chose not to speak to the dealer principal & raise your concerns instead of just putting more money in a position where it could be stolen with little that could realistically be achieved.
Had the DP been made aware then possible they could have worked with you to catch the thief.

surveyor

17,811 posts

184 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
What I don’t get is that he thought money may have gone missing, so instead of not leaving it in next time, he’s just counted it!


anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
Escy said:
I feel like this might be trolling...

Nobody could seriously contact the Police over a £3 having gone missing.
Its a lack of trust, which although an Insignificant amount is still worth reporting just in case other incidents have happened at that dealership. Would you be happy for a plumber or electrician to steal loose change from every house they visit. Why should a spanner get away with it in your car ?


Escy

3,922 posts

149 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
elanfan said:
Someone should be getting sacked over this!
I'm such a snowflake, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I got someone sacked over £3 going missing, especially when it was left there as a plant in the first place.