Stolen Phone, police doesn't care if I know the details?

AA_Alex

Hello,

I went to police, told them story about my phone.

I'm a student. At 3am on campus I was very drunk(VERY) with my friend(he wasn't that drunk). I dropped my phone, other uni student picked it up, and I don't remember why(because was too drunk) I didn't ask the phone back. It happened on campus, right on CCTV camera.

As a result, next morning I thought my phone was lost, as we were all drunk and I thought that guy didn't want to actually steal it and would report it the following week. I went to police, told I lost the phone, asked to check if someone reported it. They said no. Then I tell that I want to report it stolen, telling if the guy who picked it up didn't return it, it means he stole it.

Officer took info about me, where I live, my full name(it looked like officer wasn't that interested to get my info). Asked for a phone number, I said I don't have one because the phone is stolen and I didn't get a new one. Officer said ok, we'll contact you by mail then. Done.

P.S. - Neither my friend or me remember how that guy looks.

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Strange, isn't it? I wasn't even asked for IMEI number to add the phone to blacklist. In several days I was talking with an officer on the street about this situation. She said that my phone was written down as lost not stolen, because I didn't get a crime reference number or was asked for IMEI code to be added to blacklist.

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So I go the police station again, and *unfortunately* I speak with the same officer. Officer remembers me, checks if the phone was found and returns saying something "Not found, it's in database and we'll contact you if we find it." I say, don't you at least have to take IMEI number? Officer says oooh yes if you have one, and asks me for a reference number I was given last week. I say you didn't give my ANYTHING. I get a reply like "Yes I did" and the officer starts checking notebook for notes that were written down about me from last week. Nothing is found about me, so my name is written down again with an IMEI number, that's all. Done again. What the hell?

My phone was stolen. Person from the same University used that I was very drunk and picked up my phone and didn't return it. It all happened on campus, and i'm pretty sure you can see it on CCTV(to find thief's face, will be easily to find him at the uni). It's an HTC HD2 phone, which I payed for 400 quid when I bought it, plus 120 quid recently for fixing the LCD screen and changing the case. It's wasn't insured. So basically, police can easily check the CCTV's and find the thief from the university who stole my phone which i payed 520 quid. They don't give me a crime reference number, don't ask any details or anything.

I would find that guy myself and have a good talk with him, but I don't remember his face. What do you suggest me to do!?

Bettingmad

Couple of questions, if you thought it might have been handed in, did you check with the Uni first before going to the Police?, why did you think your phone was lost if you were aware it was picked up by someone else?

KierNet

If you've not heard back in a week or so, I would go back, if you get the same officer ask to speak to another, sometimes you need to make a fuss to get anything done.

Have you got a uni office where it might have been handed in to?

Do you have a friend that you can give a contact number with, might be easier for them to contact you that way, otherwise they could say we sent the letter etc.

AA_Alex

I didn't check the Uni. I'll check it tomorrow, but as far as I'm aware they would hand it in to police.

Actually I don't remember anything at all when my phone was stolen, just a black picture in my head, I was too drunk. I thought the guy who probably has my phone is my football friend, but he was just a random guy, I was told so by a friend who was with me that night and told me what happened. Why he watched my phone being taken by some random guy and not telling anything or taking it back is beyond my understanding. But as he added more, it looked like the guy was using the situation that I'm too drunk and stole my phone.

What i'm afraid right now is that Uni's CCTV records will be deleted. It's been a week now. How long CCTV records are normally kept for?

Bettingmad

I think the problem you had with the Police is due to the conflicting story you gave them, first lost then stolen. First off check with the Uni to see whether they have a lost property office and whether it has been handed in. If it has not been handed in you should notify the Uni of the theft of the phone and ensure that the CCTV images for the night are retained. The images should be held for 28 days or more. Next return to the Police station and insist the matter is crimed as a theft, they have to record the crime as it stipulates this re National Crime Recording Standards. Have you contacted the network to block the phone, has it been used? if it has been used request itemised billing and provide this to the Police.

JJ_Egan

What i'm afraid right now is that Uni's CCTV records will be deleted. It's been a week now. How long CCTV records are normally kept for?
Thats up to the user as to how long they keep them .

Really you should have asked the University security dept to look into it or forward the relevant tapes to the police .

I would guess plod is of the opinion that you lost the phone and are now making up a story to claim the insurance . Plus to a certain extent the evidence is all hearsay unless the witness go along to the police and back your story up .

A lot of fake my mobiles been stolen reports to the police so much so that they routinely prosecute those who go down that route .

jje

Bettingmad

Large public bodies like the Council usually retain CCTV for 28days and this should include Universities.

AA_Alex

I have contacted the network, sim blocked, hasn't been used.

JJ Egan, the thing is I have no insurance, that's why i'm so annoying to the police and want my phone back from that guy!

Ok, I will have a talk with Uni tomorrow. Thank you! I'll keep updating the thread on what happens

gjchester

AA_Alex wrote: »

At 3am on campus I was very drunk(VERY) with my friend(he wasn't that drunk). I dropped my phone, other uni student picked it up, and I don't remember why(because was too drunk) I didn't ask the phone back. It happened on campus, right on CCTV camera.

As a result, next morning I thought my phone was lost, as we were all drunk and I thought that guy didn't want to actually steal it and would report it the following week. I went to police, told I lost the phone, asked to check if someone reported it. They said no. Then I tell that I want to report it stolen, telling if the guy who picked it up didn't return it, it means he stole it.

You were drunk and lost it, he picked it up. If he asked could he have it and you said yes (unlikely but can you honestly say you can remember if it came out to court??) then it's not theft, you gave it away. He may have put it down somewhere or lost it on the way home, it could be lost in his sofa or under his bed and the batterys flat so he's not even aware it's there.

He may have taken it home intending to return it and can't even remember he took it. If he was hissed and can't remember picking it up he won't be looking for it as he doesn;t know he has it.

Did you try ringing it as soon as you knew it was lost? Did you report it stolen to the provider as soon as you could? If you did and the IMEI got blacklisted it would have pretty much no resale value in the UK, if you didn't he could have walked into any used mobile shop and sold it there and then for cash.

JJ Egans probably spot on, in their view a hissed students lost something and is now claiming it's stolen. They probably get it so many times they don't follow up, wrong? probably, but at the end of the day it's a phone, I realise it's a loss to you, but it is just a phone and most people have insurance.

It's only stolen if he intended to take it from you, it's not clear he did. Don't misunnderstand me it may be he knows where it is and is using it or has sold it on but don't jump to conclusions before you know anything.

msgnomey

That's nothing!!!
My nephew was in his halls of residence room at his desk, 2 guys he didn't know walked in to his room started chatting to him one distracts him the other nicks his iphone4 they both stroll off nephew notices phone is missing and goes after them, no sign of them

difference is his phone was insured new iphone sent out by apple next day, old phone jammed, job done

Moral? don't have an expensive phone you can't afford to replace unless you have insurance *simples*

ivinsp

Maybe consider getting a very cheap payg phone to put your replacement sim in for nights out, I used to do that and not the end of the world then if something does happen to your phone