Kands,
You've presumably had a less-than-happy experience with the Old Bill, which I'm sorry about. But if YOu don't know who nicked your bikes, how can WE know? Unquestionably, house-to-house enquiries should probably be done (asking neighbours if they saw/heard anything), but unless you've got CCTV or witnesses, the Police can't possibly be expected to detect the crime & bring offenders to justice etc. Please also bear in mind that for those of us who put on the uniform and trek out into the dark & stormy night (as I will tonight) to bear the brunt of the nation's criticism and expectations, we do so because we do actually care, not because it's an easy gravy-train job. It damn well isn't, and I am continally disheartened that "they" get away with it all the time. Last night, I came face-to-face within 10 feet on two balaclaved & gloved men with a large Stihl grinder making short work of PC World's back door. The only thing stopping me from nicking them before they took off in their stolen car was the 10-foot metal fence between us. :x I've been angry about it all day.
I cover an area measuring 40 miles x 15 miles alone. The official minimum-strength figure is two officers, but as with last night, when one of us has a prisoner, that leaves one on his Jack Jones. Ten years ago, there were 8 officers covering the area. Einstein's Laws provide that it's impossible for the public to receive anything like a proper service which they rightly expect, under the utterly farcical financial constraints placed on the Police service nationally by the Government. This isn't a political Pop - it's a Fact of Life. So when you call to report damage to your car, or your shed is broken into, you will most likely not get a visit. You will get a crime number, some questions like "Any idea who did it" and some platitudes on the phone, and that's your lot. Do we like it? Erm, no. Do you like it? Erm, no. So we're agreed that it sucks.
johnsandywhite said:
n these circumstances why did she not just show me the proof after she had offered to in the first place to show it to me?
John,
People do not react well to "being accused" which is what I guess she felt, regardless of your intentions. This is especially true when people are guilty of something - the more guilty they are, the more angry and aggressive they tend to become, on the basis that attack is a good form of defence. My advice would have been to dial 999 there and then and say that you believe you had seen your stolen bike at so-and-so street. That way, you avoid any confrontation, and a 999 call under this circumstances is warranted as it's believed that a crime is in progress.
I would also never give out my address!! That's a recipe for a bloody nose or a broken window!
Dougie.
