Sheffield Forum

12-12-2002, 06:09 PM

My car was broken into about 2 weeks ago. First they send me a "Victim of Crime" letter and leaflet. The leaflet is meant to include details of the detective investigating my case, his/her phone number etc. but it was actually blank! Also, today I received some unsolicited mail from the Police offering me a discount on a Wheel lock! Well the thieves that smashed in to my car just wanted the stereo, so what's the use of a wheel lock?!

It doesn't say much for South Yorks police!

Tricia · 15-12-2002, 11:26 PM

The police don't seem to have got things right at all.
I was walking through Hillsborough with my grandson and we
were stopped twice by the "truant police". My grandson was off school
quite legit.
They asked him for his name and address ,school and class.
They did not asked me for any about myself.
What if a child is with a person it should not be with?
I would think that the hard truants (who should be dealt with) would
hand around in gangs , not with their GRANNIES!!!

catmiss · 14-02-2003, 02:10 AM

Is it something about Hillsborough. I was shopping last year with my 16 year old son. Leaving him with several carrier bags I went inside a boring shop (his term, not mine) only to return and find him surrounded by four rather threatening young men. Maternal instincts on full alert I waded in only to be shown their ID and told they believed him to be 'Joe Bloggs' as he was dressed similarly (typical youth attire-baggy jeans, Nike jacket and those hats that seemed sensible when they were five but wouldn't wear then) He produced ID, I produced ID, they checked our address and non existant criminal records, asked 'trick' questions of both of us e.g. ' what's your sons birthdate and what's your mum's maiden name?' . They then made him take of his hat and scrutinised him, then said 'ok you're not Joe Bloggs, but stop dressing like him' and walked away. A crowd had gathered so we got our act together and went home, my son was very embarrassed and later explained that he had felt quite frightened when he was initially approached by four 'thugs' who only revealed their identity when I approached. Any wonder the youth of today have no respect for the police?

RustyBucket · 14-02-2003, 07:28 PM

Some time ago now, I was burgled twice within three weeks. The police officer who attended on both occasions was sympathetic and helpful...he told what pub to go to in order to buy back my stolen property.

The subsequent visit by a Crime Prevention Officer was extremely useful, his advice that we should not secure our belongings as " they only cause more damage" was particularly enlightening. We should not really be blaming South Yorkshire Police of course. They have to work to the guidelines they receieve from above and when the Lord Chancellor says that burglars should not go to prison, we can hardly expect the Police to expend resources on actually catching burglars.

The problems do not come from Snig Hill, they come from Whitehall and the Police are having to respond to the goal posts being moved on almost a daily basis.

Arch Stanton · 29-09-2003, 04:48 PM

How many people has this happened to then?-3 months ago I had my car broken into. I stupidly left my CD player in the car while I was making a quick visit to my family. They live in one of the less desireable areas in Sheffield so maybe it was a little naive of me to think that it would be safe for 5 minutes. Within those 5 minutes my car was broken into, passenger window smashed and CD player stolen (this was in daylight and the car was alarmed). I managed to get a description of the scumbag who broke into the car and a name, so I took consolation in the fact that surely the little **** would get caught. Until I called the police....who even admitted to me when they finally arrived at the scene (had to go through the spanish inquisition with some arrogant deskwoman that probably gets a kick out of talking to people like dirt before she passed on my details) that they were 99% sure it was this moron. They also said they would get a photo fit drawing sorted and if I identified correctly, the theiving loser would probably get arrested. 3 months later and I have heard absolutely nothing. The police seem to be more interested in sitting in their cars and pulling drivers who are 3 mile over the limit. Has anyone got any faith in the South Yorkshire police force?-Does anyone see them actually do anything to the numerous gangs who are known troublemakers/burglars/thieves etc who hang around various council estates in gangs. Or are they just not up the job?. Im afraid any joker can sit in a nice warm car looking at other cars passing by and checking if they are sticking to a speed limit. Just thought I would get that off my chest!.

Agent Orange · 29-09-2003, 05:03 PM

I can say loads of bad things with regards to South Yorkshire Police until I'm blue in the face. I've done my law abiding citizen duties and reported crimes expecting the police to respond and get the little b*****ds, but they have got me nowhere and the last laugh is usually with the little b*****ds as they carry on destroying property, stealing cos they are aware they have time on their side as there ain't enough plod to deal with such incidents.

chri5 · 29-09-2003, 05:18 PM

I agree, the South Yorkshire police are only interested in catching speeding traffic. Easy money for them.
Just my 2 cents!

steelblade · 29-09-2003, 05:20 PM

Same here.

I rang the police a couple of weeks ago about an underage driver on the estate where I live, I gave his name and his address. I was told they couldn't do anything unless I actually got the reg of the car.

They know who it is and if they had bothered to just drive around the estate for 30 mins they would have seen him. I suspect they are waiting until he seriously hurts or kills someone.

Also we are plagued by yobs/vandals/animals in the block of flats where I live, I have again given names to police, they are also captured on cctv committing acts of vandalism and again nothing has been done.

It's a joke, to be honest I am petrified about that state of this city/country. Yobs are running the streets and are being allowed to do so.

upholder · 29-09-2003, 08:52 PM

Last year some lowlife piece of **** who should have been smothered at birth and rendered down into pet food tried to steal my daughters mobile phone. She did the sensible thing and legged it unharmed.
Phoned the police who came out, took a statement, my daughter identified the man from their mug shot book and guess what, we will keep an eye on him sir!

Ha, said I. Is that it.

It wasn't worth pursuing as they would find it difficult to prove that he intended to steal the phone.

The lady PC wouldn't show me the guys picture.
I wonder why.

spook · 29-09-2003, 09:28 PM

removed by spook..

Phanerothyme · 29-09-2003, 10:39 PM

I have found the police in sheffield, on the occasions that I have had to deal with them, exemplary and sympathetic.

But then I am not looking for retribution, so much as due process. Being a police officer is a job of work that is neither pleasant nor easy.

Speeding Kills. Burglary very rarely does. I tend to rate saving lives over saving property, much like the fire service. And yes, I have 3 Speeding points, and I paid my fine without complaint.

My £0.02.

upholder · 30-09-2003, 01:22 PM

Thanks for the reply spook1210.
I did agree with the PC that the likelyhood of a conviction was remote but they could have given him a tug and a talking to as you would have then at least he would have been aware that the police had their eye on him.
You never know but he might have thought twice about doing it again.

Also I couldn't care less about the phone, I was more concerned that my daughter could walk the streets of Sheffield safely in daylight without being attacked for a lump of plastic to pay for the next fix.

I am not looking for retribution either Phanerothyme, just the guy who attacked my daughter

Sidla · 30-09-2003, 01:34 PM

I hate police. They're all corrupt. If they make a mistake it will be covered up and nothing will come of it.

Don't get me started on this, let's just say I've had experiances.

Phanerothyme · 30-09-2003, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sidla
I hate police. They're all corrupt. If they make a mistake it will be covered up and nothing will come of it.

Don't get me started on this, let's just say I've had experiances.

do you have any solution in mind?

spook · 30-09-2003, 07:01 PM

removed by spook.

speeder · 01-10-2003, 09:45 PM

We used to work near the m----r estate, had the shutter door rammed one night, alarm went off,we got there from stocksbridge before the cops who came from attercliffe, they said minimun response time was 20(count them) minutes, anywhere in the city limits, in 20 mins i could be in leeds ferchrissakes, what a joke it is sometimes

alchresearch · 01-10-2003, 09:58 PM

Perhaps because they were all chasing one (not stolen) Audi, or ferrying morons back to Doncaster because they missed their last bus and decided to walk up the Parkway with a baby......

alchresearch · 01-10-2003, 10:01 PM

ooh that reminds me of something I heard at work today. Don't know if its true or not or one of those urban myths:

A man sees some burglars in his shed and rings the police. They tell him that they cannot spare anyone as it is not an emergency since they aren't in his house.

He rings back five minutes later and tells them that it's ok as he has just shot one of them.

Two minutes later there are dozens of police there, armed response units, the lot.

When the police confront the home owner, they ask what the hell is going on, nobody has been shot.

The homeowner replies "Yes, and you said you couldn't spare anyone....."

Phanerothyme · 01-10-2003, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by alchresearch
ooh that reminds me of something I heard at work today. Don't know if its true or not or one of those urban myths:

A man sees some burglars in his shed and rings the police. They tell him that they cannot spare anyone as it is not an emergency since they aren't in his house......"

Interestingly - true (snopes report)
But inadvisable, since deliberate false reporting of a serious crime will land you in hot water. And yes, shooting someone dead is on the face of it a more serious crime than breaking into a garden shed.

Internetowl · 02-10-2003, 09:19 PM

true story - last year the house next door was empty - some kids were breaking in and I let my dog out on them - it pinned one to the fence and the other two escaped over the fence. I rang the police after retrieving the dog - the kid ran off a lot paler than he was when he was trying to prise the door off. The police said I coulsdn't report the incident to them because it wasn't my property and advised I should report it to the council who would then report it. I did that....

I also wrote to the Star and got an interesting reply from SY Police apologising. However no one ever came from either the Police or Council and the door half hung off all winter and till the next spring when they came to make it fit for inhabitation again...

Makes you wonder....the message is clear, if it doesn't actually belong to you, keep your nose out!