A car dealer whose van was stolen had to pay to get it back because police said they could not find the owner – despite his contact details being plastered all over it. ...... Jez Luff, 38, was charged £310 as his vehicle was impounded for three days after being stolen from outside a workmate’s home in Rustington. When he called police to ask why he had not been contacted, they told him that they “had no means to contact him”. Jez added: “I thought they must be joking, I’ve got my website and phone number plastered on three sides of the vehicle’. “I’m not being funny but they are the guys who investigate these things, surely a little clue like my details on the side could have done the trick.” When he realised the van was missing he called police who initially said they were unaware of any theft. After pleading with them to check the database, they revealed that it had been found in nearby Wick and that Westbourne Motors had towed it to a secure lockup. Jez said: “I asked about getting it back and they said I would have to pay for the three days it was impounded. “I asked why I hadn’t been contacted and they said that they had no means of getting hold of me. “I’m the victim of crime here and I’m being made to pay to get my van back. “On top of that I had to pay for the repairs. So in total I’m almost £1,400 out of pocket. “How can they be that stupid? It’s just ridiculous.” A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: “Where an owner cannot be immediately identified or contacted, a vehicle is taken into safe storage under statutory powers and the owner/keeper notified of its location. “In this case a landline telephone number for Love Cars was printed on the van, but due to the time of day it was not considered practical to call this number. “There was no registered keeper associated with the vehicle, meaning officers were not able to identify a named owner to contact. “As with all vehicle recoveries made, the owner in this case is welcome to write to the Chief Constable or the Vehicle Recovery Unit for his case to be reviewed.” http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9696028.Police_fail_to_contact_owner_of_van_whose_number_is_painted_on_side/?ref=mr
Brilliant. Presumably plod there are still living in the early 20th century where it's inconceivable that a business might have an answerphone.
The plod have no regard for the general public, they see that many scumbags in their day to day job that they think we're all the same To us having our car stolen or crashed is a distubing thing to them its just a minor part of their day and arnt bothered
When I had my 1st car and stolen - it was left on a roundabout when the joy riders crashed it. I was told I had to pay for the cost of removing it from there and the subsequent towing back to the pound. I refused to pay! and got my way
believe me, norfolk constabulary is a joke. i've just watched my mate(copper) dragged through the courts for alledgedly assulting a burglar. he was found innocent! he is now being dragged through a tribunal at work for the same charge that he has been found innocent of in a magistrates court! to top it all off, the complete nobber who is seeing to all of this has sorted out our town with 2 police boats and a mounted (horse) officer. poplulation 2500 with no crowd controll issues and no crime at sea reported for years and even yarmouth, norwich and kings lynn have none of these, oh and my council tax police payments went up this year!
I think sometimes they are only policemen because of the pension, and pay, as for being thick, it does help.
Just to stand up for them a little bit There was no registered keeper associated with the vehicle, meaning officers were not able to identify a named owner to contact If he couldn't be bothered to register it properly to get out of parking /speeding tickets why should they bother
So do you think we could retaliate in a crime against us out of office hours and stand there in court saying "I would have alled the police but I didn't think the time of day was appropriate to call them"??
Its clear that nobody likes the pigs. Im glad. I hate them. They have a clear disregard for the public which is a contradiction of their mere existence, and their neglect of duty is apparent at every move they make. This story is one of a growing number of the examples of their utter incompetence. #pigsstink P(SG)
