Last night at 11.30 pm, I disturbed an attempted break in/theft....

[zenasfuck]

I saw 4 men in head to toe black and balaclavas, I'm not sure where they were trying to break into or what, but they were outside of my house. I turned my light on which disturbed them and they ran off in to a waiting car

I dialled 999 immediately and was told officers would be with me shortly

It is now 12 hours later and not even a phone call from the police

Anyone want to place bets on when/if they bother to get in touch - I'll give good odds

Omg @zenasfuck that must have been frightening for you but well done for scaring them off... the police really should have at least phoned you by now though... do you live rurally where there's no street lighting and it's dark? It's always a good idea to leave an outside light on at nighttime

It was quite frightening but it all happened so quickly I wasn't scared at the time of that makes sense

I'm worried now that they saw me and know where I live so may come back 😩

Just thought it was a really poor show from the police - 4 men in balaclavas and they can't even call me for info or an update

I get that it's frightening but all you saw was 4 men in balaclavas which is what you relayed to the 999 call handler. Officers would have been looking for them, not speaking to you for the limited amount of information you were able to pass.

There's also every chance they were called elsewhere soon after.

I'm genuinely not trying to be shitty with you, but a lot more goes on behind the scenes than police officers simply deciding not to bother speaking to you.

I hope you've got over the fright

@Champagneforeveryone I totally get that but I'd have thought one of the first things to do would be to come and view the cctv belonging to several neighbours that I told them about

If they are still around and they have a chance of catching and prosecuting they will come blues and twos but if they have left, they have no chance of getting them so they don't bother. That's our experience anyway.

I'm worried now that they saw me and know where I live so may come back
😩

Come back for what? To break in? They were already going to do that and knew where your house was.

If you mean as revenge for reporting them? Unlikely. They’re burglars not the mafia. if they were even caught and know they were reported they won’t even be giving you a second thought. They’ll be sorting out their arrests and once they think they’re not on the radar they’ll be moving on to their next house to burgle.

Also as you have no 'crime' to report viewing the cctv won't get them anywhere. Well done for disturbing them. Crime prevention advice is just to secure your gates if possible, make the place look well cared for and occupied. Mark your property with uv pens (though you won't get it back).