I was out walking my dogs the other morning...still dark down the marshes/dunes at the beach, when I saw the first rays of sunlight reflect off something. So I ploughed my way closer and saw a bike propped up/partially hidden in a large bush, I was still about 100m off so couldn't make out if it was someone camping. Anyway I eventually got close enough and saw that it was a stolen bike obviously hidden by scumbags for a bit of off road riding pleasure when they come back. It was a Honda Cityfly in silver, never heard of a Cityfly , but it certainly wasn't flying and definitely out of it's comfort zone. So I calls the Police on the 101 number and had to suffer the usual delays whilst the system transfers you to a human who then tells you, after you have spent a minute or so explaining things, that you need to be put through to the control room. I got put through and explained the situation again... If you have ever had to chat to these controllers it can be a painful experience, I often wonder if they are given a book of stupid and pointless questions to ask. "Hi, I'm just down at such & such marshes and I've found a stolen motorbike hidden in some bushes" "OK sir, how do you know that it's stolen ?" I would have thought that the words "marshes and hidden in a bush" would have been a clue....but I persevered.. "Well its got the ignition barrel smashed off, the petrol filler cap has bee ripped off and a rag shoved in the hole and the number plate has been smashed off just leaving the bolts... and it's hidden is a large bush 50m from the nearest tarmac on a marsh" "Oh, so you don't think it's just broken down and the owner has left it there ?" "No, I wouldn't have said so" "And where-abouts is this ?" Then came the lengthy and drawn out process of trying to explain my location to the Police, who, when I gave them 3 different names by which the area is popularly known by, said.. "Nope it's not coming up on our system and I'm not from this area..." After giving a geography lesson on the East coast and Tees estuary finally I got "I think I've found it on the map" I'm so glad I wasn't bleeding to death from an arterial wound "I'll despatch an officer to have a look" "OK I said, I'll tie a bright orange flag to the top of the bush so it's visible from the road to identify the bush" the flag was the rag shoved in the cap. Any way about 40 minutes later as I'm just about to go for a ride on the blade, I get a phone call from said dispatched officer. "Hello, I'm at the location you said but can't find the flag or bike" So I asked him to wait and rode down there got him to follow me and pointed out, fluttering in the breeze and sunshine the bright orange flag... Sometimes you have to wonder..
Good work dude and as much as its hard work trying to get basic information over ,I bet you felt better knowing you have done your bit!.
Yes it did, I've been on the receiving end of having a bike stolen and knowing the scroates are riding it about, so depriving them of a free ride and hopefully the rightful owner will either get the bike back or the knowledge that the thieving twats no longer have it is nice
I am sure when they reduced the height qualification to allow 5 foot midgets to become police officers there must have been some correlation with brain size as well.
Surprised they even bothered to go out, they never have with items we have had stolen, I even had a guy locked in our yard and phoned to say he was being held here, did not bother, next day they had the cheek to phone me and ask what I wanted to do, well, turn up would have been a start!
Reminds me of this, bus passenger reported it and Police couldn't find the car. Poor lad trapped in his car for hours. Family to sue police over six hour delay in reaching crash victim - Telegraph
Sounds about right for Cleveland Police, Tom. Over the years my car's been broken into on at least 3 separate occasions and they've never recovered anything or prosecuted anyone. They made sure to give me a fine and 3 points on my licence when they caught me on a speed camera doing 36 mph though
When I drove off after putting the flag up I checked to see if it was visible, as I turned the van round a scruffy Peugeot 206 with a bunch of youths arrived, one got out and walked over to where the bike was hidden, saw the orange flag, ran back to the car, which took off like scolded cat...needless to say I got the reg number..
Years ago I was doing security on a pretty rough council estate. There was an abandoned stolen car which neither the police or council were interested in. That was until I mentioned that I may have just overheard some kids talking about torching in. Police were there in 5 minutes and a council recovery truck in 20. Just saying
I think that the reason the police tend to not put a high priority on stolen bikes/petty theft is that it's all a matter of money. They know pretty much who the prime suspects are and that even if they catch them red handed, all the scumbags get is another fine, which they pay off at £1 per week or some ridiculous rate, at the very most they might get a few weeks custodial, which a few actually don't mind getting as they get all the cushy life things inside.. But they spot you on your £14k bike doing a few miles over the limit or a slightly small plate and it's cash-cow time as the know the hard working owner will have the funds to cough up the £100+
