Being the victim
Discussion
Octane Junkie's recent posting under "Numpties confused" reminded me of some pretty poor experiences of being the victim of car crime.
Things like being told it was my fault someone tried to steal my car because I had the wrong kind of car (desk sergeant, Stockport police station)
Like having to have my car specially blocked in by the hotel minibus so there was a chance it might still be there in the morning (Holiday Inn, Seaton Burn, Newcastle)
Like some thirteen year old plonker screwdrivering the locks out of my wife's Metro so he could steal a packet of chewing gum - plod actually collared him but had no evidence (that or the paperwork was too much like hard work)
Like struggling with a trolley jack in the p*****g rain at three in the morning to get some bricks under the car because some ar**hole has unscrewed the wheels and f****d off with them
Like having someone trying to nick your car nine times in three years, each time landing it in the garage for up to two weeks while the damage was repaired - and that was all for a bloody Fiesta.
What sort of experiences have you drivers of serious metal had?
Things like being told it was my fault someone tried to steal my car because I had the wrong kind of car (desk sergeant, Stockport police station)
Like having to have my car specially blocked in by the hotel minibus so there was a chance it might still be there in the morning (Holiday Inn, Seaton Burn, Newcastle)
Like some thirteen year old plonker screwdrivering the locks out of my wife's Metro so he could steal a packet of chewing gum - plod actually collared him but had no evidence (that or the paperwork was too much like hard work)
Like struggling with a trolley jack in the p*****g rain at three in the morning to get some bricks under the car because some ar**hole has unscrewed the wheels and f****d off with them
Like having someone trying to nick your car nine times in three years, each time landing it in the garage for up to two weeks while the damage was repaired - and that was all for a bloody Fiesta.
What sort of experiences have you drivers of serious metal had?
Crikey,
you've had a fair bit of bad luck. Nothing special other than my old car getting broken into about 4 times, and nothing getting stolen each time - just cost me to repair it. Also the police coundn't give a toss - won't even take finger prints , they say that there won't be any coz its outside?
In fact the nicer the car I've had the better I've been treated - but I do live abroad.
you've had a fair bit of bad luck. Nothing special other than my old car getting broken into about 4 times, and nothing getting stolen each time - just cost me to repair it. Also the police coundn't give a toss - won't even take finger prints , they say that there won't be any coz its outside?
In fact the nicer the car I've had the better I've been treated - but I do live abroad.
Had a Kawasaki ZZR1100 stolen from Waitrose car park, Berkhamsted in the space of 20 minutes in the middle of a sunny summer afternoon.
The bike was found fairly badly damaged, two days later, in the back garden of a man in Dunstable who had just been released early from an 18 month sentence for motorcycle theft.
The bike was third party fire and theft insured. The case went to court, but the CPS decided that just because it was found in this man's back garden, covered in his fingerprints, and with his previous form, didn't actually prove that he was guilty. So criminal charges were dropped, he got off scot free and yours truly had to pick up the bill for the damage to the bike. I even had to pay a hefty release fee from a Police Yard in Leighton Buzzard for the vehicle.
Totally destroyed my faith in the Police, the judiciary and in insurance companies in one fell swoop.
The bike was found fairly badly damaged, two days later, in the back garden of a man in Dunstable who had just been released early from an 18 month sentence for motorcycle theft.
The bike was third party fire and theft insured. The case went to court, but the CPS decided that just because it was found in this man's back garden, covered in his fingerprints, and with his previous form, didn't actually prove that he was guilty. So criminal charges were dropped, he got off scot free and yours truly had to pick up the bill for the damage to the bike. I even had to pay a hefty release fee from a Police Yard in Leighton Buzzard for the vehicle.
Totally destroyed my faith in the Police, the judiciary and in insurance companies in one fell swoop.
A mate of mine in leafy Windsor has had his golf attempted to be broken into 5 times and his Caterham (without steering wheel, alarm and immobiliser on) picked up outside his house and stolen whilst he was asleep.
When the police came to look at his golf, they said 'Ooh they are after the leather interior, but theres nothing we can do'
Matt.
When the police came to look at his golf, they said 'Ooh they are after the leather interior, but theres nothing we can do'
Matt.
I had an Astra SRi nicked after being parked in Manchester for less than 30 mins, Plod called me later and said it was found in Moss side (nice part of Manc' 
) and I would have to collect it.
I asked if it was drivable and they said, as a matter of fact, no, it has no wheels, and the steering column is damaged, No Sh!t!! it was destroyed. Plod suggested I get the AA to pick it up, so helpful.
I had the head off my AH Sprite on the back seat (taking to a w'shop for flowing) and it was still there luckily! allthough the studs had gone through the seats.
Mags
) and I would have to collect it. I asked if it was drivable and they said, as a matter of fact, no, it has no wheels, and the steering column is damaged, No Sh!t!! it was destroyed. Plod suggested I get the AA to pick it up, so helpful.
I had the head off my AH Sprite on the back seat (taking to a w'shop for flowing) and it was still there luckily! allthough the studs had gone through the seats.
Mags
I've had my Fiesta (student car) broken into perhaps 3/4 times in the space of a year. Plod ignored me.
Had the wheelnuts nicked from my car (2 of the 4 on each wheel) and got about 50yds up the road before I decided to stop moving.. Coulda been worse if they had left the remaining two wheel nuts on tight enough for me not to notice till I hit 70mph.
My Father had his car stolen EVERY weekend for 4 weeks (it was always found in the same spot and always stolen Every Sunday PM) - Plod did not have the resources to wait for a car thief.
My sister had her car stolen. The police were more interested in the Air Rifle that was in the boot as she could have been prosecuted if it had been used to commit an offence (they told her)
My mother had her car broken into a few times. Tapes and leather jacket and odds and sods stolen.
NEVER had one of my decent cars touched in the slightest (touch wood)
All the above happened in the same car park in the council estate where my parents live. I still goto visit now and still see cars with the rear quarter smashed in the same way my fathers and my cars were broken into. So the little
is still doing it and Plod are doing Sweet FA. Unless manning a Speed Camera outside a school on a Sunday counts.
Had the wheelnuts nicked from my car (2 of the 4 on each wheel) and got about 50yds up the road before I decided to stop moving.. Coulda been worse if they had left the remaining two wheel nuts on tight enough for me not to notice till I hit 70mph.
My Father had his car stolen EVERY weekend for 4 weeks (it was always found in the same spot and always stolen Every Sunday PM) - Plod did not have the resources to wait for a car thief.
My sister had her car stolen. The police were more interested in the Air Rifle that was in the boot as she could have been prosecuted if it had been used to commit an offence (they told her)
My mother had her car broken into a few times. Tapes and leather jacket and odds and sods stolen.
NEVER had one of my decent cars touched in the slightest (touch wood)
All the above happened in the same car park in the council estate where my parents live. I still goto visit now and still see cars with the rear quarter smashed in the same way my fathers and my cars were broken into. So the little
is still doing it and Plod are doing Sweet FA. Unless manning a Speed Camera outside a school on a Sunday counts. quote:
fingerprints, and with his previous form, didn't actually prove that he was guilty. So criminal charges were dropped, he got off scot free and yours truly had to pick up the bill for the damage to the bike. I even had to pay a hefty release fee from a Police Yard in Leighton Buzzard for the vehicle.
Yeah, but if you dare to have a taxed/insured/mot'd vehicle, and go past a f**king camera at 5mph over the limit, you can bet they will have the resources to deal with that. I'm beginning to see a pattern emerging here.... can you?
quote:
Yeah, but if you dare to have a taxed/insured/mot'd vehicle, and go past a f**king camera at 5mph over the limit, you can bet they will have the resources to deal with that. I'm beginning to see a pattern emerging here.... can you?
Very simple. if it makes money, they are interested....
Living in Bristol had two cars stolen and broken into four times. When the police come round eventually I had the same type of response top the others listed.IE what do you expect owning a sporty car, no point in finger prints we can't catch them etc etc. My point to them was if someone went into a building scociety and nicked ten grand the response would be much different than to my ten grand car. I don't need some plod telling me it was insured so thats okay for me. I want the action I pay for in my taxes, I want the same rersponse as if it was the queen mothers car that was nicked. Now if the cops were allowed to keep ten percent of the value of the goods recovered do you think they would do something then?
I was told a story recently, apparently from the press..
A woman is in her house and realises someone is breaking into her shed.. She dials 999 and speaks to plod operator.
Woman:"Someone's breaking into my shed and nicking my stuff"
PlodOp: "I'm sorry madam - it'll be 30 minutes before we can get someone to you. We have no-one in your area"
Woman phones back 2 minutes later
Woman: "Hello, I phoned a minute ago about someone breaking into my shed"
PlodOp: "Yes..?"
Woman: "I shot him. You'd better send someone round"
2 minutes later, blues & twos and guns & ammo arrive. They catch the shed-emptier red handed.
Plod: "I thought you said you'd shot him, madam?"
Woman: "I thought you didn't have anyone in my area?"
Hmm... Useful idea there..
A woman is in her house and realises someone is breaking into her shed.. She dials 999 and speaks to plod operator.
Woman:"Someone's breaking into my shed and nicking my stuff"
PlodOp: "I'm sorry madam - it'll be 30 minutes before we can get someone to you. We have no-one in your area"
Woman phones back 2 minutes later
Woman: "Hello, I phoned a minute ago about someone breaking into my shed"
PlodOp: "Yes..?"
Woman: "I shot him. You'd better send someone round"
2 minutes later, blues & twos and guns & ammo arrive. They catch the shed-emptier red handed.
Plod: "I thought you said you'd shot him, madam?"
Woman: "I thought you didn't have anyone in my area?"
Hmm... Useful idea there..
My son's Golf was broken into 4 times on our driveway - the last time a few months back the King Cnut cut himself (but unfortunately did not bleed to death) However, when I said there was blood, the plod actually turned up, took some glass with blood on for a dna analysis and nailed the sod. We even got 40 quid back towards the cost of the window.
Normally we just eat the cost of the damage caused by these scumbags, but it was nice to get a positive result for once.
Normally we just eat the cost of the damage caused by these scumbags, but it was nice to get a positive result for once.
quote:yeah - I see what you're saying and I guess that's a good possibility had plod not nicked the shed-emptier.. still, in the current climate, I suspect you'd have the backing of a lot of newspapers if you did...
CarZee, good idea, but you can be done for "wasting police time" if that happens.
Ah.. and then the beak would decide that he doesn't like the Daily Mail and would 'make an example of you'..
Just a thought.. I wonder if the shed-emptier was held up by casually placed rakes a la Sideshow Bob
>> Edited by CarZee on Thursday 31st January 10:12
quote:
I was told a story recently, apparently from the press..
A woman is in her house and realises someone is breaking into her shed.. She dials 999 and speaks to plod operator.
Woman:"Someone's breaking into my shed and nicking my stuff"
PlodOp: "I'm sorry madam - it'll be 30 minutes before we can get someone to you. We have no-one in your area"
Woman phones back 2 minutes later
Woman: "Hello, I phoned a minute ago about someone breaking into my shed"
PlodOp: "Yes..?"
Woman: "I shot him. You'd better send someone round"
2 minutes later, blues & twos and guns & ammo arrive. They catch the shed-emptier red handed.
Plod: "I thought you said you'd shot him, madam?"
Woman: "I thought you didn't have anyone in my area?"
Hmm... Useful idea there..
I think it was the husband who Shot the crim with a water pistol.. Just didn't mention it was a water pistol.
A friend of mine had is Boxster knicked from outside his house! Reported it to the police and nothing for a couple of days. Next thing he hears is that it has turned up and can he confirm the car is actually his - like go and take a look at it in the impound. Now he lived in Cambridge and the car turned up in Bradford????
Long story shorter - went to Bradford to confirm car was his but couldnt take it away due to the ongoing investigation. Started processing claim for insurance damage. Went to collect the car (well ordered to collect the car that day - pity if you work I guess!) - had to drive back to Bradford. Then had to pay £250 to have the car "released" from the impound!!! Then had the additional £500 for the insurance excess.... Not quite what you expect. Gets worse though :
Car collected covered, and I mean totally covered in the black finger printing stuff. They didnt even clean anything off the car. Just left it! He took the car to a professional cleaner (finger print crud wont come off with a normal car wash!!!) and had to pay another £100 to have it cleaned.... Asked the police why they hadnt bothered doing anything, was told - "you shouldnt have had it stolen sir"......
Bloody cheek - All up he was looking at the thick end of £1000 for having his car stolen! And people say that your insurance picks up the bill - rubbish, hit him hard in the wallet.
Cheers,
Paul
Long story shorter - went to Bradford to confirm car was his but couldnt take it away due to the ongoing investigation. Started processing claim for insurance damage. Went to collect the car (well ordered to collect the car that day - pity if you work I guess!) - had to drive back to Bradford. Then had to pay £250 to have the car "released" from the impound!!! Then had the additional £500 for the insurance excess.... Not quite what you expect. Gets worse though :
Car collected covered, and I mean totally covered in the black finger printing stuff. They didnt even clean anything off the car. Just left it! He took the car to a professional cleaner (finger print crud wont come off with a normal car wash!!!) and had to pay another £100 to have it cleaned.... Asked the police why they hadnt bothered doing anything, was told - "you shouldnt have had it stolen sir"......
Bloody cheek - All up he was looking at the thick end of £1000 for having his car stolen! And people say that your insurance picks up the bill - rubbish, hit him hard in the wallet.
Cheers,
Paul
Personally (when I'd been pulled off the ceiling) I'd be having the name & number of any plod t**t who said that to me and I'd be onto the PCC and the Chief Cunstable and anyone else I could.. generally not making any material difference to me but happy in the knowledge that plod would at least be investigated.
Makes you see why people might be tempted to exploit their ethnicity when faced with such arrogance from the police..
moral of the story? Run an A-Reg Sierra with a 4litre Rover V8, and sorted suspension and don't forget a primered wing and door.. and take the rotor arm (or suchlike) away with you when you leave it..
Makes you see why people might be tempted to exploit their ethnicity when faced with such arrogance from the police..
moral of the story? Run an A-Reg Sierra with a 4litre Rover V8, and sorted suspension and don't forget a primered wing and door.. and take the rotor arm (or suchlike) away with you when you leave it..
Had my MG Maestro Turbo (yes I had one of those, It was my first brand new car and it was great!)stolen in broad daylight from a car park in Nottingham. Plod phoned me to tell me (I was at work) Car found 3 days later in Strelley ( approx 5 miles away) very badly damaged. Turned out the Police had known where it was the whole time - the hooligans had driven it around for two days, and even filled it with petrol twice!. Police had decided not to try to stop the car "cos it was too fast for their patrol car to chase and it might have caused an accident"
"Any way" said Plod," What did I expect, parking a flash car like that in public!?"
Went to identify the car at the pound and noticed a spanking Sierra Cossie parked next to it, undamaged.
I asked the officer about it and he proudly told me they had recovered it 15 mins after it was stolen from a petrol station and they were waiting for the owner to collect. They were going to bollock him for leaving the keys in when he went to pay at the petrol station. Surely the Cossie was faster then my MG?
When I went back 2 days later to collect my car the Cossie was gone, not collected by the owner but stolen from the Police pound!!!!!! They had left the keys in it too.
You have to laugh don't you?
Andy
"Any way" said Plod," What did I expect, parking a flash car like that in public!?"
Went to identify the car at the pound and noticed a spanking Sierra Cossie parked next to it, undamaged.
I asked the officer about it and he proudly told me they had recovered it 15 mins after it was stolen from a petrol station and they were waiting for the owner to collect. They were going to bollock him for leaving the keys in when he went to pay at the petrol station. Surely the Cossie was faster then my MG?
When I went back 2 days later to collect my car the Cossie was gone, not collected by the owner but stolen from the Police pound!!!!!! They had left the keys in it too.
You have to laugh don't you?
Andy
I read in a paper a while ago, some column ranting about the state of law enforcement, where the bloke said:
And I totally agree - it seems more and more that plod are targetting motorists while ignoring Joyriders/theiving scrotes etc (primarily due to the courts doing F-all to the theiving B*stards), doing immersurable damage to the reputation of the police.
quote:
We are heading towards a state where the Police are only policing those who want to be policed
And I totally agree - it seems more and more that plod are targetting motorists while ignoring Joyriders/theiving scrotes etc (primarily due to the courts doing F-all to the theiving B*stards), doing immersurable damage to the reputation of the police.
quote:And you'd think a government so obsessed with public perception would pick up on this... but no..
it seems more and more that plod are targetting motorists while ignoring Joyriders/theiving scrotes etc (primarily due to the courts doing F-all to the theiving B*stards), doing immersurable damage to the reputation of the police.
quote:
quote:And you'd think a government so obsessed with public perception would pick up on this... but no..
it seems more and more that plod are targetting motorists while ignoring Joyriders/theiving scrotes etc (primarily due to the courts doing F-all to the theiving B*stards), doing immersurable damage to the reputation of the police.
I think that is because certain members of Govt think they are so f***ing perfect that nothing they do can be wrong. I agree that the Police are crap nowadys, they seem to concentrate on hitting Targets rather than solving real crime.
Why do you have to pay to collect a car from a Police Compound if it has been stolen ????
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