Found a TV today.
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Discussion

Baz Tench

Original Poster:

5,648 posts

221 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
quotequote all
Not motoring related, but I came home today to find what turned out to be a 47" 3D Smart TV, which had been left under my car port (at the back of the house, well away from public view).

It was covered in thick polythene and had been sat on a towel to protect the stand I suppose. Anyway, after a few local enquiries I drew a blank, and I phoned the police.

They came out a little while ago and took it away, suspecting it had been stolen in a burglary and the burglars had most probably stashed at the back of my house, where they thought it wouldn't be disturbed, before they come back later to collect.

Now, if it isn't claimed by a possible burglary victim (I feel bad for them if it that is the case, as it has happened to me before), can I make a claim on it myself, seeing as it was left on my property?

I asked the officers this, and they seemed a bit vague. Nice telly though...

Petrus1983

11,297 posts

193 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
quotequote all
I personally would have thought so - what else would happen to it?? Police Christmas Fund Auction maybe?

Baz Tench

Original Poster:

5,648 posts

221 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
quotequote all
Petrus1983 said:
I personally would have thought so - what else would happen to it?? Police Christmas Fund Auction maybe?
Funnily enough, that was the exact comment the officer made! In jest of course..

Petrus1983

11,297 posts

193 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
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laugh 'jest' laugh

S1_RS

782 posts

230 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
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Have you checked your living room yet?

Baz Tench

Original Poster:

5,648 posts

221 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
quotequote all
Hehe, you've got me worried now!

They just said that they would let me know if it was claimed, and didn't say anything else.

Baz Tench

Original Poster:

5,648 posts

221 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
quotequote all
S1_RS said:
Have you checked your living room yet?
I'm more worried about my M3. It's now parked where the TV was :/.

Driver101

14,451 posts

152 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
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Being a smart tv, won't it likely be logged into apps with usernames to potentially give you some idea who owns it?

Certain apps use the person's email as their log in.


Baz Tench

Original Poster:

5,648 posts

221 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
quotequote all
No idea, they're a bit alien to me. I suppose all that will be dealt with whilst it's in police custody.

Impasse

15,099 posts

272 months

Thursday 29th May 2014
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Sure it wasn't just a failed Yodel delivery?

Funk

27,800 posts

240 months

Thursday 29th May 2014
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Impasse said:
Sure it wasn't just a failed Yodel delivery?
Can't be. A Yodel delivery is normally just a small piece of card saying, "We called but.."

Never known them actually deliver a package.

Red Devil

13,530 posts

239 months

covboy

2,593 posts

205 months

Thursday 29th May 2014
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Baz Tench said:
I'm more worried about my M3. It's now parked where the TV was :/.
Worst long winded "I've got an M3" post for a long time biggrin

Baz Tench

Original Poster:

5,648 posts

221 months

Thursday 29th May 2014
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Red Devil said:
Interesting thread! Thanks for the link.

It seems that policies differ from Force to Force (I've never understood that, it seems to be the same with traffic/speed enforcement too, but I digress).

Anyway, I think it's best to give it 28 days, as suggested on Askthepolice website, or whatever it's called, then give them a call. I will be interested to see how this plays out..

Snowboy

8,028 posts

182 months

Thursday 29th May 2014
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Depends on the local force policies.
There's also a difference between "lost and found" vs Stolen goods.

It sounds a bit like a delivery that's gone wrong - but you said you'd checked with neighbours.

plus5dB

986 posts

178 months

Thursday 29th May 2014
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Do you have a wife/girlfriend? Maybe they were planning on surprising you but couldn't arrange on having it installed yet. Obviously they couldn't leave it in the box so it was wrapped in plastic and even protected with a towel. Now you've just given it away.

3Dee

3,206 posts

252 months

Thursday 29th May 2014
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This smacks of a similar thread a while back regarding handing over a possibly stolen bike left on the OP's property!

In that thread, the OP had asked the police about the possibility of having it back if not reported as stolen or not returned etc, and the police ignored and auctioned it, even though the OP was entitled!

Again, if I remember, there was some thread comment about reporting the item, but insisting on keeping it by the finder until ownership/ stolen status could be established rather than letting plod keep, then dispose (benefit?) themselves!

I know not about the right or wrongs of such things.

CAPP0

20,881 posts

234 months

Thursday 29th May 2014
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Funk said:
Impasse said:
Sure it wasn't just a failed Yodel delivery?
Can't be. A Yodel delivery is normally just a small piece of card saying, "We called but.."

Never known them actually deliver a package.
Check the corners of the TV for damage. Around here, if you're not in, Yodel just throw the package over the side gate, regardless of what's in it or the weather. I once had something in this manner, except that we were away for a long (rainy) weekend and it was soaked to the point of falling apart by the time we got home.

ging84

9,548 posts

177 months

Thursday 29th May 2014
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covboy said:
Worst long winded "I've got an M3" post for a long time biggrin
And a carport
some people don't even have a parking space

Baz Tench

Original Poster:

5,648 posts

221 months

Thursday 29th May 2014
quotequote all
The thread about the bike is linked above.

It may have been an ebay purchase gone wrong, definitely used, no remote control etc. I think I will just have to play it by ear, but I doubt I will hear anything else unless I chase it up.

As regards keeping hold of it rather than the police taking it away, I didn't think that would be possible once it was reported as found, but maybe I was wrong on that.

Anyway, it's all a bit of a mystery at the moment. Will have to see how it unfolds I guess.

Edited by Baz Tench on Thursday 29th May 09:43