IMPORTANT REMINDER: Please make sure your posts do not contain any personally identifiable information. If you are uploading images, please take extra care that you have redacted all personal information.
Elderly keying my new car
Hi all, I have found myself in a huge hassle.
For the past 5 years, someone has been keying the cars to the residents of a closed avenue in London. After fixing my cars, they would get keyed again. After upgrading vehicles - they would get keyed instantly. So, a couple of weeks ago, I had my new Rangie parked outside and it got keyed. Luckily, turns out the neighbours across the street had a CCTV and were happy to review footage.
On footage, it is clear that since I parked till we discovered the scratch, she is the only one passing by and stopping for a second [a 75 yo ex-council and immigration officer worker to fit the picture]. We called the police, and after the details were collected, they spoke to her and a week later, (with our shiny new CCTV) we caught her keying our friend's car clear as day.
So now the police have said there isn't sufficient information (even though reports in the past years have been made against unknown criminal for keying cars). They are even denying to view the new footage.
Does anyone know what is the best course of action? Threatening the police to put a complaint for no action is certainly on the list.
:eek:
Update: Timeline of events:
30.08 We caught the offender on neighbour's CCTV for the first time - Police was called and spoke to the lady. Footage does not show how she keys it but shows she is the only one passing by my car since I parked.
05.09 - Lady is caught keying Neighbour's car - footage is clear, report was put through. Police did not attend
16.09 - Lady keys my Range Rover again, footage is clearest. police attend at 10pm and dont make arrest.
17.09 - Lady keys my Range Rover again, footage is clear. Police attend 9am meeting on 18.09 and arrest her .
The actions:
04.09 (5 days after first CCTV) - I call police to enquire on progress. Am told investigator is on holiday leave for 2 weeks. I request new investigator.
07-08-09-10 Spet - I call 101 and Barking ICU for information - Second report is already in and case seems dismissed. Told to wait for investigator to call me.
16.09 - Complaint put through against no-action, Letter to newspapers, emails and calls to council, this thread. First call ever from the police recieved - I mentioned the witnesses and turns out their details weren't taken on first instance.
10 Calls to police later turns out the case is dismissed due to lack of evidence and initial report was taken wrong - not stating the racial nature and the 5 year ongoing abuse on our vehicles. Later on the day - new footage.
2 police cars turn up at 10pm post our scheduled 7pm appt - Sgt who first reproted incident on 30.08 asks his coleagues for private chat. He then asks me to dismiss the complaint.
17.09 - More letters to council. One more footage and second call from police stating the suspect can be arrested. Another complaint for no-action since the first one was dismissed.
18.09 - Investigating officer claims case has reached DSP (or ministry of internal affairs) and has been marked as high priority due to someone reviewing calls and reports. Officer's report is extensive notes that the other reports were lacking important information.
For the past 5 years, someone has been keying the cars to the residents of a closed avenue in London. After fixing my cars, they would get keyed again. After upgrading vehicles - they would get keyed instantly. So, a couple of weeks ago, I had my new Rangie parked outside and it got keyed. Luckily, turns out the neighbours across the street had a CCTV and were happy to review footage.
On footage, it is clear that since I parked till we discovered the scratch, she is the only one passing by and stopping for a second [a 75 yo ex-council and immigration officer worker to fit the picture]. We called the police, and after the details were collected, they spoke to her and a week later, (with our shiny new CCTV) we caught her keying our friend's car clear as day.
So now the police have said there isn't sufficient information (even though reports in the past years have been made against unknown criminal for keying cars). They are even denying to view the new footage.
Does anyone know what is the best course of action? Threatening the police to put a complaint for no action is certainly on the list.
:eek:Update: Timeline of events:
30.08 We caught the offender on neighbour's CCTV for the first time - Police was called and spoke to the lady. Footage does not show how she keys it but shows she is the only one passing by my car since I parked.
05.09 - Lady is caught keying Neighbour's car - footage is clear, report was put through. Police did not attend
16.09 - Lady keys my Range Rover again, footage is clearest. police attend at 10pm and dont make arrest.
17.09 - Lady keys my Range Rover again, footage is clear. Police attend 9am meeting on 18.09 and arrest her .
The actions:
04.09 (5 days after first CCTV) - I call police to enquire on progress. Am told investigator is on holiday leave for 2 weeks. I request new investigator.
07-08-09-10 Spet - I call 101 and Barking ICU for information - Second report is already in and case seems dismissed. Told to wait for investigator to call me.
16.09 - Complaint put through against no-action, Letter to newspapers, emails and calls to council, this thread. First call ever from the police recieved - I mentioned the witnesses and turns out their details weren't taken on first instance.
10 Calls to police later turns out the case is dismissed due to lack of evidence and initial report was taken wrong - not stating the racial nature and the 5 year ongoing abuse on our vehicles. Later on the day - new footage.
2 police cars turn up at 10pm post our scheduled 7pm appt - Sgt who first reproted incident on 30.08 asks his coleagues for private chat. He then asks me to dismiss the complaint.
17.09 - More letters to council. One more footage and second call from police stating the suspect can be arrested. Another complaint for no-action since the first one was dismissed.
18.09 - Investigating officer claims case has reached DSP (or ministry of internal affairs) and has been marked as high priority due to someone reviewing calls and reports. Officer's report is extensive notes that the other reports were lacking important information.
0
This discussion has been closed.
Latest MSE News and Guides
Has your old furniture become desirable again?
Share your photos in this thread
Join the MSE Forum discussion
Replies
Ah, take her to small claims court??
How is that not obvious?!
Well perhaps not, not sure what the age, occupation and nationality of the offender biases things though.
It goes on the balance of probabilities with the Courts so if video evidence is clear and shows the culprit to be recognisable then chances are the Courts find in your favour, If it is blurred and cannot be determined that the individual you have taken to Court is responsible then chances are you fail unless she admits to doing it.
Basically look at the tape get an outside opinion and if you believe between you it is very clear the proceed with said action.
Well you tell me - watch the video (from my CCTV) youtube / watch?v=uyYPevFwxzw
Do you have a photo of the damage caused and any evidence that it wasn't there prior to the time of that recording? Objectively, I could have just watched a helpful neighbour wipe a bit of dirt off your Corsa's passenger side door.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=uyYPevFwxzw
You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time but you can never please all of the people all of the time
If you look close enough she is in the reflection of the the car - here, she approached me shocked that there is a scratch on my car - she ran out of her house to point it out to me!