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Vehicle break-ins 'are not a priority'
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| Victim: Nick Farrant |
POLICE refused to go to a car park and investigate a dozen cars which had been broken into.
Thieves punched the locks and broke windows of about 12 cars between 9pm and 10pm on Thursday while the owners were playing football at Tilsley Park in Abingdon.
Mobile phones and wallets were stolen but after nine motorists reported the break-ins, police refused to go to the car park to investigate - instead asking drivers to go down to Abingdon police station so the vehicles could be dusted for fingerprints.
Victim Paul Holligan, 30, said he was dismayed police would not come out.
Thames Valley Police initially said that officers did not go because there were no witnesses or CCTV - and that it was raining so any forensic evidence would be washed away.
But the owners said it was not raining when the thieves struck.
Asked for an explanation and what other crimes were going on in Abingdon at the time, police spokesman Claire Gourlay refused to say. Miss Gourlay said: "The officers assessed the situation and when it's things like that, because there was no CCTV, that's how they prioritise their jobs.
"They did put out a traffic message so that police would be aware of the Ford (seen leaving the car park at the time)."
Mr Holligan was playing football with local team the Abingdon Exiles when thieves broke into his three-year-old Volkswagen Beetle and stole £650 worth of his personal possessions.
Mr Holligan said: "It wasn't raining at the time and it surprised me that the police didn't come out as obviously there are forensics that they can take from inside the car, the thieves must have rummaged through the items in the glove box.
"When there are that number of cars broken into you would expect the police to make an appearance. It's disappointing."
Anyone with any information should contact PC Ben Peach at Abingdon police station on 08458 505505 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
5:35pm Monday 17th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: JK, Abingdon on 7:08pm Mon 17 Mar 08
Guess police were too busy trying to catch motorists on their phones or doing 1/2 mile above speed limit. After all catching low lifes who break into peoples cars isn't profitable for them.
Guess police were too busy trying to catch motorists on their phones or doing 1/2 mile above speed limit. After all catching low lifes who break into peoples cars isn't profitable for them.
Posted by: tgd, Abingdon on 5:28am Tue 18 Mar 08
So the possessions were worth more than the car, how stupid to leave so much in the car.
So the possessions were worth more than the car, how stupid to leave so much in the car.
Posted by: Nick, Abingdon on 8:27am Tue 18 Mar 08
tgd - How did you work that out?
tgd - How did you work that out?
Posted by: Frank, Abingdon on 8:47am Tue 18 Mar 08
Outrageous - all the fat sweaty coppers were probably too busy down at McDonalds or something
Outrageous - all the fat sweaty coppers were probably too busy down at McDonalds or something
Posted by: L, Abingdon on 9:48am Tue 18 Mar 08
[bold]I agree with Frank.....coppers round here are useless and they don't care about most things...they just care about underage drinkers, or kids doing graffiti.
They were probly stuffing their faces so couldn't be bothered 2 move[/bold]
I agree with Frank.....coppers round here are useless and they don't care about most things...they just care about underage drinkers, or kids doing graffiti.
They were probly stuffing their faces so couldn't be bothered 2 move Posted by: tim, wantage on 1:27pm Tue 18 Mar 08
sorry to say but the police in Abingdon are the worst of them all in Thames valley.I have 3 brothers in the police and they think they are a joke in Abingdon compared to other areas.maybe they should be investigated themselves as to how they treat the public as well as what they get up to when there supposed to working.
sorry to say but the police in Abingdon are the worst of them all in Thames valley.I have 3 brothers in the police and they think they are a joke in Abingdon compared to other areas.maybe they should be investigated themselves as to how they treat the public as well as what they get up to when there supposed to working.
Posted by: Udder Man, Silicon Valley on 1:42pm Tue 18 Mar 08
[bold]bold[/bold] Boobies
Posted by: CB, Abingdon on 8:48am Wed 19 Mar 08
Any car theft has been low priority with TVP, for a while. When there was a lot of thefts of Metros, all they did was issue a crime number, then if it was found offer to tow it to the pound, and charge you all the costs. For a short while the fingerprint unit was in a mobile unit based in Redbridge Park and Ride to take evidence from the scene of the crimes.
Any car theft has been low priority with TVP, for a while. When there was a lot of thefts of Metros, all they did was issue a crime number, then if it was found offer to tow it to the pound, and charge you all the costs. For a short while the fingerprint unit was in a mobile unit based in Redbridge Park and Ride to take evidence from the scene of the crimes.
Posted by: Moaner, Abingdon on 11:14am Wed 19 Mar 08
Oh and good old Tilsley Park and their crap staff hadnt even bothered to clear up the broken glass - this was last Saturday 48 hrs later! Hello public place, safety???
Oh and good old Tilsley Park and their crap staff hadnt even bothered to clear up the broken glass - this was last Saturday 48 hrs later! Hello public place, safety???
Posted by: Udder Man, Silicon Valley on 1:17pm Wed 19 Mar 08
More Boobies
Posted by: Harry half brick, ox on 6:31pm Fri 21 Mar 08
There are also scum low lives causing criminal damage to cars this week in the same area. If your scum kid comes home with paint on him then turn him in. A name or names would also be useful.
There are also scum low lives causing criminal damage to cars this week in the same area. If your scum kid comes home with paint on him then turn him in. A name or names would also be useful.
Posted by: Anon, Wantage on 2:11pm Mon 24 Mar 08
This doesn't surprise me at all. I was one of many back in the early 90's to return to my car at the Park & Ride at Redbridge to find it gone. When I reported it to the police I was told to ring back later when there would be someone on the crime desk to deal with it! It took another 2 hours of phone calls to report it!
This doesn't surprise me at all. I was one of many back in the early 90's to return to my car at the Park & Ride at Redbridge to find it gone. When I reported it to the police I was told to ring back later when there would be someone on the crime desk to deal with it! It took another 2 hours of phone calls to report it!
Posted by: Marie, Oxford on 3:00pm Tue 25 Mar 08
There were some cars vandalised in Oxford recently and the police wouldn't go out to them there either. Again, no cctv, no witnesses, etc. Said the rain would wash away the evidence. I feel so safe!
There were some cars vandalised in Oxford recently and the police wouldn't go out to them there either. Again, no cctv, no witnesses, etc. Said the rain would wash away the evidence. I feel so safe!
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