| Author |
Message |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, 12 October, 2005 - 07:15 pm: | |
I was going to post on Monday following some ***** stealing my little girls bike from outside my home in the posh estate. Regular members may remember the "FH is full of muggers" debate several months ago, featuring 'he who can not be named'. I agree with hin that we live in a normally safe and low crime area, but it still hurts when you are a victim. Anyway dear reader, the situation has now moved on.
After falling off my daughter came in to get her knee badaged. She is not old enough to realise that there are toe-rags out there who would nick a girls bike. Now Baggy Dave has had several stolen, usually well chained up.
I sussed that it would be opportunists, maybe kids, and that it could be well dumped in the area. But there are a lot of roads.
After reporting it to the police I phoned the bike shops and did the rounds of the second hand shops. No success.
I thought I'd ask my many friends here on SE23 to look around but did not get round to it. Meanwhile a friend (thanks Jed) suggested putting 'missing' posters up.
Following this, Isobel called me yesterday to report a fracas with some kids and her neighbours not so far away on Sunday night ending up with the kids throwing a bike through a neighbour's hedge. She thought that this may be ours. Some belief in humanity again! They called the police and the bike was taken away but the boys in blue visited one of the lads.
Dealing with the police was like wading through treacle. Hanging on the line waiting for an answer from Catford. Eventually getting through but they could not trace it. The same again at Sydenham police station. At last success, a bit damaged but grateful to have it back.
So the police could not put 2 and 2 together that a bike nicked one moment could be found quarter of a mile away the next. They even managed to record the wrong colour of bike. And as a whole I have a lot of patience and sympathy for them. And we asked them to press charges - what charges they said? They know at least one of the perpertrators.
Anyway, think this is a good news story and you may have been entertained. Any general views on what a lovely community we are and how inefficient the police are, welcome. Or how I should just let it lie and forget the disaffected youth.
Love and peace |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 13 October, 2005 - 10:18 am: | |
Charges could be criminal damage for the damage done to the bike and possibly theft of the bicycle as you might not have recovered the bike. |
Bosco
Joined 16-07-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, 13 October, 2005 - 11:31 am: | |
Sherwood, I thing Baggy Dave's point is that the police should not be asking the victim of a pretty clear cut crime what the charges should be as it is blindingly obvious that the charges would be theft and possibly criminal damage! |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, 13 October, 2005 - 11:45 am: | |
Thanks guys - think one of my issues (bearing in mind the time taken with the police already and their lack of joined-up ness) is it worth progressing this? I'll sleep on it some more. |
Les
Joined 28-01-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, 13 October, 2005 - 12:47 pm: | |
Baggy,
I think you are absolutely right to keep pushing this. Tolerance of this kind of petty crime is exactly what is leading to increasing levels of more serious crime and anti-social behaviour, in my opinion (and I don't read the Mail, either).
The leadership that the community needs is "if you act in an anti-social or illegal manner, it is unacceptable, and it is likely you will be punished".
The minority have to realise that people are sick of this type of behaviour.
I'm gettin my gun. Hang on have i gone too far?
Les. |
Les
Joined 28-01-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, 13 October, 2005 - 12:55 pm: | |
On a similar point, some bright spark threw a brick through the windscreen of a car near where I live a couple of weeks ago.
It's not serious, but it is the sort of mindset that needs sorting out - it makes living in London depressing at times.
Les. |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 13 October, 2005 - 01:54 pm: | |
This seems to be a case for an ASBO. It does seem that ASBOs have come about because the police just do not enforce existing laws. Personally, I think Baggydave should pursue the matter. The police have a crime and a suspect. They should report to the CPS and let them decide whether or not to prosecute.
What was the attitude of the person whose hedge the bike was thrown through?
Bosco, Unfortuntely, taking someone's bicycle is not entirely clearcut under English law as the intention to permanently deprive the owner of it has to be proved. People say they were just borrowing the bike and intended to return it. There is a separate offence of taking a car without the owner's permission (TDA) to cover this for a car. I am not sure if there is a similar offence for "borrowing" a bicycle. |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Friday, 14 October, 2005 - 04:24 pm: | |
Thanks for futher views. Am reliably informed by plod contact that in disposing of the bike [by throwing it through the hedge] they have assumed the rights of the owner, and therefore it is theft. In the same way that if you stole a newspaper from outside a newsagents to read and then throw it away, you would have assumed the rights of the owner even though you had only taken it to read. You have deprived the owner of their lawful right to use of it etc. |
Seeformiles
Joined 09-04-2005
| | Posted on Friday, 21 October, 2005 - 12:55 pm: | |
I thought we weren't allowed to talk about crime in Forest Hill for fear of making the forum too negative? Personally it's never bothered me either way - and I think people should be free to report anti-social behaviour on here if they want to. But I do remember the cries of protest a few months back if anyone dared to mention crime. |
Otterboy
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Friday, 21 October, 2005 - 03:31 pm: | |
Forest Hill is like a friendlier version of Hobbiton. |
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, 22 October, 2005 - 12:06 pm: | |
If there was no crime in Forest Hill people would think it was as real as Middle Earth. Everywhere has crime these days, even deepest Dorset.
Apparently the influx of Pretend Plods in oversized uniforms at Forest Hill station is an attempt to handle the increasing problem of yobbishness of Sydenham Girls. Yes, girls. Apparently WH Smith had to shut recently because of this.
Heard this from a different neighbour.
There is a community forum to discuss these matters with the police- think Cllr Whiting may have details. |
Jo108
Joined 03-03-2005
| | Posted on Monday, 31 October, 2005 - 05:18 pm: | |
You mean...Middle Earth isn't... real...?!!
Could've sworn I heard about some attempted jewellery theft there or something |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 01 November, 2005 - 09:25 pm: | |
If only they had ridden the bicycle through a puddle, then the police would have taken some action! |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 02 November, 2005 - 01:01 pm: | |
I agree SE 23 is no different from the rest of the UK. We are far too tolerant of the criminal classes.
Government should start my scrapping infamous
Human Rights Acts. Only those who show responsibility to their fellow citizens deserve rights.
Anti Social behavour should be stamped on , not our police ( whom I notice now seem to employ an officer about 5 foot high ).
W H Smiths have had a security guard for some time I noticed one in Boots last Sat. Who pays for all these people of course we do in higher prices.
Bring back corporal punishment. Also see if Oz wants to reinstate the convict fleets. |
