Hit and run while at red light

Ditzy_Mitzy

Sandtree said:

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

cpheonix said:

Thank you all for your responses, much appreciated.

I took it to the garage to get it checked out and it is just the bumper skin that needs replacing, as I thought. The part and labour would be under the excess of my insurance. I had a look at the Motor Insurers Bureau and they can't help if fully comp, which I am. 

My partner and 5 year old had slight whiplash - hurt at the time but fine the next day and A&E checked them out just in case. So overall not a major accident but I'm still angry. 

I'm not sure knowing who they are exactly and whether they are insured would help me right now (even though I am tempted). But I did look up their number plate on the dvla site (it's free) and the description of the vehicle was the right one, with the Tax and MOT up to date. 

I suppose I just want them to know that I know (if that makes sense), so was curious what would happen to my police report, if anything.

In the good old days you would go to the police station front counter (remember those?) and speak to the civilian staff member (remember those?) or police officer (remember those?) on duty.  He or she, of if you were really unlucky some fifteen or twenty years ago me, would fill out an accident report form.  Your details, anything you know of the other car, witness details, a statement and sketches would go on.  The form would then be passed to a police officer for further investigation.  He would carry out further enquiries, generally speaking to witnesses, checking CCTV in the area and obtaining further details to narrow down possible drivers.  If a driver was found, he would be interviewed on record and reported for any driving offences to the local magistrate.  It's amazing what can be done with manpower and a proper budget, isn't it?  Real Rolls Royce service; you didn't have to crash a Rolls to get it either, everyone from Mercedes to Skoda owners got the same treatment.  

Christ only knows what happens now, post Osborne.  Your form probably gets filed in the bin.  I wouldn't worry too much about it, the police haven't even got the money to deal with major crime these days.  

Think that is very very much rose tinted glasses. 

Pre-Osborne I went to lunch in the pub on the way to a business meeting, didn't have alcohol because I was driving. Briefcase was under the table with papers, pens, personal mobile etc. After lunch got up and went and my bag is no longer there. Walked to the police station front counter (I remember them) 150m down the road, spoke to both a civilian member of staff and subsequently a police sergeant (I remember them) to report the theft of my bag, hoping they could look at the pub's CCTV or the CCTV in the streets around the pub).

I was told I had to fill in a lost property form, that if you dont see someone take something then its lost not stolen and obviously the lost property form will just go to the lost property office and if a briefcase comes in that matches the description they'll let me know. Hence the sergeant was called out and he agreed. Had a major issue at work as losing confidential papers rather than having them stolen didn't go down well!

Years before that called after my car was broken into, was told it was up to me if someone came out to have a look at the car but it'd be a waste of time and instead they could just give me the crime reference number over the phone for the insurance company.

Certainly in my lifetime have never known the police to be interested in minor property related incidents and its always been a tick box to do enough to allow an insurance claim to be made. 

But I didn't wear tinted glasses, just normal ones...

DB1904

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

cpheonix said:

Thank you all for your responses, much appreciated.

I took it to the garage to get it checked out and it is just the bumper skin that needs replacing, as I thought. The part and labour would be under the excess of my insurance. I had a look at the Motor Insurers Bureau and they can't help if fully comp, which I am. 

My partner and 5 year old had slight whiplash - hurt at the time but fine the next day and A&E checked them out just in case. So overall not a major accident but I'm still angry. 

I'm not sure knowing who they are exactly and whether they are insured would help me right now (even though I am tempted). But I did look up their number plate on the dvla site (it's free) and the description of the vehicle was the right one, with the Tax and MOT up to date. 

I suppose I just want them to know that I know (if that makes sense), so was curious what would happen to my police report, if anything.

In the good old days you would go to the police station front counter (remember those?) and speak to the civilian staff member (remember those?) or police officer (remember those?) on duty.  He or she, of if you were really unlucky some fifteen or twenty years ago me, would fill out an accident report form.  Your details, anything you know of the other car, witness details, a statement and sketches would go on.  The form would then be passed to a police officer for further investigation.  He would carry out further enquiries, generally speaking to witnesses, checking CCTV in the area and obtaining further details to narrow down possible drivers.  If a driver was found, he would be interviewed on record and reported for any driving offences to the local magistrate.  It's amazing what can be done with manpower and a proper budget, isn't it?  Real Rolls Royce service; you didn't have to crash a Rolls to get it either, everyone from Mercedes to Skoda owners got the same treatment.  

Christ only knows what happens now, post Osborne.  Your form probably gets filed in the bin.  I wouldn't worry too much about it, the police haven't even got the money to deal with major crime these days.  

Car_54 said:

grandadgolfer said:

Sandtree said:

grandadgolfer said:

shiraz99 said:

Worth doing a vehicle check to see what the tax and mot status of the van is - https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk, chances are if not taxed then it won't be insured either. Also use askmid.com to check to check for insurance details.

This should be the first thing you do

Again... why pay for something that your insurer will do for free?

To check a third party vehicle for insurance you legally have to use https://www.askmid.com/askmidenquiry.aspx which comes with a cost of £10. Most will say to breach data protection rules and use https://ownvehicle.askmid.com despite you having to declare its your vehicle (the clue is in the url) however this only shows if some insurance exists today... the paid search and the one your insurer will do for free will show if there was insurance on the day of the accident and give the insurer and policy number so you can actually do something with it. 

https://ownvehicle.askmid.com/#         well i think most people have breached data protection me included,and if showing no insurance/mot etc a good chance there will be no record of the who the current owner is

There is no record anywhere of who owns a vehicle.

Is that a bit sexist are are you talking about long ago? You know when there was a Police Woman's department employed to look after lost children and make tea for the Police Men.

DB1904

Sandtree said:

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

cpheonix said:

Thank you all for your responses, much appreciated.

I took it to the garage to get it checked out and it is just the bumper skin that needs replacing, as I thought. The part and labour would be under the excess of my insurance. I had a look at the Motor Insurers Bureau and they can't help if fully comp, which I am. 

My partner and 5 year old had slight whiplash - hurt at the time but fine the next day and A&E checked them out just in case. So overall not a major accident but I'm still angry. 

I'm not sure knowing who they are exactly and whether they are insured would help me right now (even though I am tempted). But I did look up their number plate on the dvla site (it's free) and the description of the vehicle was the right one, with the Tax and MOT up to date. 

I suppose I just want them to know that I know (if that makes sense), so was curious what would happen to my police report, if anything.

In the good old days you would go to the police station front counter (remember those?) and speak to the civilian staff member (remember those?) or police officer (remember those?) on duty.  He or she, of if you were really unlucky some fifteen or twenty years ago me, would fill out an accident report form.  Your details, anything you know of the other car, witness details, a statement and sketches would go on.  The form would then be passed to a police officer for further investigation.  He would carry out further enquiries, generally speaking to witnesses, checking CCTV in the area and obtaining further details to narrow down possible drivers.  If a driver was found, he would be interviewed on record and reported for any driving offences to the local magistrate.  It's amazing what can be done with manpower and a proper budget, isn't it?  Real Rolls Royce service; you didn't have to crash a Rolls to get it either, everyone from Mercedes to Skoda owners got the same treatment.  

Christ only knows what happens now, post Osborne.  Your form probably gets filed in the bin.  I wouldn't worry too much about it, the police haven't even got the money to deal with major crime these days.  

Think that is very very much rose tinted glasses. 

Pre-Osborne I went to lunch in the pub on the way to a business meeting, didn't have alcohol because I was driving. Briefcase was under the table with papers, pens, personal mobile etc. After lunch got up and went and my bag is no longer there. Walked to the police station front counter (I remember them) 150m down the road, spoke to both a civilian member of staff and subsequently a police sergeant (I remember them) to report the theft of my bag, hoping they could look at the pub's CCTV or the CCTV in the streets around the pub).

I was told I had to fill in a lost property form, that if you dont see someone take something then its lost not stolen and obviously the lost property form will just go to the lost property office and if a briefcase comes in that matches the description they'll let me know. Hence the sergeant was called out and he agreed. Had a major issue at work as losing confidential papers rather than having them stolen didn't go down well!

Years before that called after my car was broken into, was told it was up to me if someone came out to have a look at the car but it'd be a waste of time and instead they could just give me the crime reference number over the phone for the insurance company.

Certainly in my lifetime have never known the police to be interested in minor property related incidents and its always been a tick box to do enough to allow an insurance claim to be made. 

So it went missing from under the table you were sat at the whole time? How come you didn't see it happen?

Sandtree

DB1904 said:

Sandtree said:

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

cpheonix said:

Thank you all for your responses, much appreciated.

I took it to the garage to get it checked out and it is just the bumper skin that needs replacing, as I thought. The part and labour would be under the excess of my insurance. I had a look at the Motor Insurers Bureau and they can't help if fully comp, which I am. 

My partner and 5 year old had slight whiplash - hurt at the time but fine the next day and A&E checked them out just in case. So overall not a major accident but I'm still angry. 

I'm not sure knowing who they are exactly and whether they are insured would help me right now (even though I am tempted). But I did look up their number plate on the dvla site (it's free) and the description of the vehicle was the right one, with the Tax and MOT up to date. 

I suppose I just want them to know that I know (if that makes sense), so was curious what would happen to my police report, if anything.

In the good old days you would go to the police station front counter (remember those?) and speak to the civilian staff member (remember those?) or police officer (remember those?) on duty.  He or she, of if you were really unlucky some fifteen or twenty years ago me, would fill out an accident report form.  Your details, anything you know of the other car, witness details, a statement and sketches would go on.  The form would then be passed to a police officer for further investigation.  He would carry out further enquiries, generally speaking to witnesses, checking CCTV in the area and obtaining further details to narrow down possible drivers.  If a driver was found, he would be interviewed on record and reported for any driving offences to the local magistrate.  It's amazing what can be done with manpower and a proper budget, isn't it?  Real Rolls Royce service; you didn't have to crash a Rolls to get it either, everyone from Mercedes to Skoda owners got the same treatment.  

Christ only knows what happens now, post Osborne.  Your form probably gets filed in the bin.  I wouldn't worry too much about it, the police haven't even got the money to deal with major crime these days.  

Think that is very very much rose tinted glasses. 

Pre-Osborne I went to lunch in the pub on the way to a business meeting, didn't have alcohol because I was driving. Briefcase was under the table with papers, pens, personal mobile etc. After lunch got up and went and my bag is no longer there. Walked to the police station front counter (I remember them) 150m down the road, spoke to both a civilian member of staff and subsequently a police sergeant (I remember them) to report the theft of my bag, hoping they could look at the pub's CCTV or the CCTV in the streets around the pub).

I was told I had to fill in a lost property form, that if you dont see someone take something then its lost not stolen and obviously the lost property form will just go to the lost property office and if a briefcase comes in that matches the description they'll let me know. Hence the sergeant was called out and he agreed. Had a major issue at work as losing confidential papers rather than having them stolen didn't go down well!

Years before that called after my car was broken into, was told it was up to me if someone came out to have a look at the car but it'd be a waste of time and instead they could just give me the crime reference number over the phone for the insurance company.

Certainly in my lifetime have never known the police to be interested in minor property related incidents and its always been a tick box to do enough to allow an insurance claim to be made. 

So it went missing from under the table you were sat at the whole time? How come you didn't see it happen?

There were 8 of us in total, I'm sure that at some point I went to the toilet and/or the bar to get another drink but at no time would all of us have left the table at the same time.

I dont have 360 degree vision nor can I be aware of everything at all times... I dont know at what point someone took the bag but to me its fairly straight forward that if you put something under the table and dont abandon the table and it goes its clearly been taken by someone and its not "lost property" which would suggest I left it somewhere and forgot or staff mistoke the table as finished and assumed it had been abandoned.

When our house was "broken into" and someone took my mothers jewellery box the police didn't ask if we'd seen who took it nor said it must have been lost property because we didn't... they got in via the patio door that had the old fashioned lock that was easy to jimmy and so the only sign of entry was the open door.

Realistically I wasn't expecting anything more than a crime reference number with which I could have gone to my employers and said "my bag was stolen, here's the crime reference number" but because I could only give a "lost property reference" they were very unhappy... thankfully it was corporate sensitive data in the bag and not customer PII.

A long time later I had another issue with that station and mentioned it appeared to be a bit of a trend and at that point they stated it was wrong, it should have been treated as a theft, that someone probably assumed it had a laptop in it so took it and most likely dumped it when they found it didn't. That it should have been "investigated" and "here's the crime reference number for it 'if it helps'".

DB1904

Sandtree said:

DB1904 said:

Sandtree said:

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

cpheonix said:

Thank you all for your responses, much appreciated.

I took it to the garage to get it checked out and it is just the bumper skin that needs replacing, as I thought. The part and labour would be under the excess of my insurance. I had a look at the Motor Insurers Bureau and they can't help if fully comp, which I am. 

My partner and 5 year old had slight whiplash - hurt at the time but fine the next day and A&E checked them out just in case. So overall not a major accident but I'm still angry. 

I'm not sure knowing who they are exactly and whether they are insured would help me right now (even though I am tempted). But I did look up their number plate on the dvla site (it's free) and the description of the vehicle was the right one, with the Tax and MOT up to date. 

I suppose I just want them to know that I know (if that makes sense), so was curious what would happen to my police report, if anything.

In the good old days you would go to the police station front counter (remember those?) and speak to the civilian staff member (remember those?) or police officer (remember those?) on duty.  He or she, of if you were really unlucky some fifteen or twenty years ago me, would fill out an accident report form.  Your details, anything you know of the other car, witness details, a statement and sketches would go on.  The form would then be passed to a police officer for further investigation.  He would carry out further enquiries, generally speaking to witnesses, checking CCTV in the area and obtaining further details to narrow down possible drivers.  If a driver was found, he would be interviewed on record and reported for any driving offences to the local magistrate.  It's amazing what can be done with manpower and a proper budget, isn't it?  Real Rolls Royce service; you didn't have to crash a Rolls to get it either, everyone from Mercedes to Skoda owners got the same treatment.  

Christ only knows what happens now, post Osborne.  Your form probably gets filed in the bin.  I wouldn't worry too much about it, the police haven't even got the money to deal with major crime these days.  

Think that is very very much rose tinted glasses. 

Pre-Osborne I went to lunch in the pub on the way to a business meeting, didn't have alcohol because I was driving. Briefcase was under the table with papers, pens, personal mobile etc. After lunch got up and went and my bag is no longer there. Walked to the police station front counter (I remember them) 150m down the road, spoke to both a civilian member of staff and subsequently a police sergeant (I remember them) to report the theft of my bag, hoping they could look at the pub's CCTV or the CCTV in the streets around the pub).

I was told I had to fill in a lost property form, that if you dont see someone take something then its lost not stolen and obviously the lost property form will just go to the lost property office and if a briefcase comes in that matches the description they'll let me know. Hence the sergeant was called out and he agreed. Had a major issue at work as losing confidential papers rather than having them stolen didn't go down well!

Years before that called after my car was broken into, was told it was up to me if someone came out to have a look at the car but it'd be a waste of time and instead they could just give me the crime reference number over the phone for the insurance company.

Certainly in my lifetime have never known the police to be interested in minor property related incidents and its always been a tick box to do enough to allow an insurance claim to be made. 

So it went missing from under the table you were sat at the whole time? How come you didn't see it happen?

There were 8 of us in total, I'm sure that at some point I went to the toilet and/or the bar to get another drink but at no time would all of us have left the table at the same time.

I dont have 360 degree vision nor can I be aware of everything at all times... I dont know at what point someone took the bag but to me its fairly straight forward that if you put something under the table and dont abandon the table and it goes its clearly been taken by someone and its not "lost property" which would suggest I left it somewhere and forgot or staff mistoke the table as finished and assumed it had been abandoned.

When our house was "broken into" and someone took my mothers jewellery box the police didn't ask if we'd seen who took it nor said it must have been lost property because we didn't... they got in via the patio door that had the old fashioned lock that was easy to jimmy and so the only sign of entry was the open door.

Realistically I wasn't expecting anything more than a crime reference number with which I could have gone to my employers and said "my bag was stolen, here's the crime reference number" but because I could only give a "lost property reference" they were very unhappy... thankfully it was corporate sensitive data in the bag and not customer PII.

A long time later I had another issue with that station and mentioned it appeared to be a bit of a trend and at that point they stated it was wrong, it should have been treated as a theft, that someone probably assumed it had a laptop in it so took it and most likely dumped it when they found it didn't. That it should have been "investigated" and "here's the crime reference number for it 'if it helps'".

There's your problem either someone within your group took it or they all left it unattended. In this day and age yes it would be recorded as theft but if you're talking some time ago then they'd say there's no evidence of a theft taking place.

Sandtree

DB1904 said:
There's your problem either someone within your group took it or they all left it unattended. In this day and age yes it would be recorded as theft but if you're talking some time ago then they'd say there's no evidence of a theft taking place.

In theory someone in the group could have hid it but given they all work in financial services and are subject to criminal record checks etc it would be taking the prank a bit far to do it and then come into the police station with me when I am reporting it as stolen.

Personally think its highly unlikely that all 8 guys simultaneously decided to go to the bar and/or toilets at the same time given food order was taken at the table, I was putting it all on the corporate card and there were only 2 toilets in the gents and dont remember a queue of 6 outside when I came out. Plus others had their laptops etc on the table and it wasn't the sort of pub you'd feel comfortable leaving a computer out and expecting it to still be there if you left it behind. 

They didn't say there is no evidence of theft, they said it was because I didn't see the theft it wasn't stolen... the pub had CCTV (obv no idea if it caught our table or even if it really works) and it was on a major street with CCTV plus you can see the pub from the police station so even its CCTV may have caught someone but as it was "lost property" they weren't going to be doing any investigation to see if anyone was seen with my briefcase. 

Manxman_in_exile

Seems very odd that it could have gone missing without any of your party at all being aware of somebody taking it.

Mind you if it "wasn't the sort of pub you'd feel comfortable leaving a computer out and expecting it to still be there if you left it behind... " that might be the explanation.  Choose better pubs.

Sandtree

Manxman_in_exile said:

Choose better pubs.

The food was actually really good, it was between the office and the train station so convenient, for London it was cheap and it had a load of pool tables (though you had to bring your own cues most the time as theirs were often snapped or tips missing). Downside was that there were some sticky fingers and very sticky carpets... thankfully other than the bag incident the only other things "lost" were a couple of packs of cigarets left on the table or pool table on various visits. 

DB1904

Sandtree said:

DB1904 said:
There's your problem either someone within your group took it or they all left it unattended. In this day and age yes it would be recorded as theft but if you're talking some time ago then they'd say there's no evidence of a theft taking place.

In theory someone in the group could have hid it but given they all work in financial services and are subject to criminal record checks etc it would be taking the prank a bit far to do it and then come into the police station with me when I am reporting it as stolen.

Personally think its highly unlikely that all 8 guys simultaneously decided to go to the bar and/or toilets at the same time given food order was taken at the table, I was putting it all on the corporate card and there were only 2 toilets in the gents and dont remember a queue of 6 outside when I came out. Plus others had their laptops etc on the table and it wasn't the sort of pub you'd feel comfortable leaving a computer out and expecting it to still be there if you left it behind. 

They didn't say there is no evidence of theft, they said it was because I didn't see the theft it wasn't stolen... the pub had CCTV (obv no idea if it caught our table or even if it really works) and it was on a major street with CCTV plus you can see the pub from the police station so even its CCTV may have caught someone but as it was "lost property" they weren't going to be doing any investigation to see if anyone was seen with my briefcase. 

Aka no evidence to support your allegation of theft.

Jenni_D

The briefcase was in a location
A while later the briefcase was no longer in that location
A briefcase cannot move by itself (I'm assuming it did not have wheels)
The poster knew where it was supposed to be - it was no longer there.

They didn't lose it - so how else would it no longer be in the place it was put? Someone took (or moved) it. The poster doesn't state that they gave someone permission to take or move it, thus it was stolen. (Taken without owner's consent, which would seem apt for this Motoring board).