Threatening behaviour - would you report to police?

[Gonnagetgoing]

Last night there was a bit of drama in our street - woman living next door heard a noise outside her house and saw 2 men who were trying to steal her catalytic converter. When she challenged them they went off but before doing so gave her a load of abuse including threatening to knife her. She's recently moved to the house but has moved from Norfolk to SE London.

This morning it turns out that my car has also had the catalytic converter stolen - thought I'd checked but they must've returned in the night. So I need to get that dealt with.

I know this type of crime is on the rise generally, but if someone threatens to stab you surely that's not right and needs to be dealt with and reported to the police?

Why you would NOT report theft and being threatened with a knife?

hmm yes. I would have called 999 last night when the crime was taking place

I agree that should've been a 999 call. If there's no CCTV and no way of identifying them nothing will be done now.

Both the theft and the threat need to be reported. The police will do bugger all about it, but if people stop reporting then there is no justification for additional funding.

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

Why you would NOT report theft and being threatened with a knife?

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy - I told neighbour to report to the police but there was no theft until this morning.

I'm now dealing with the police re the theft.

@girlmom21

I agree that should've been a 999 call. If there's no CCTV and no way of identifying them nothing will be done now.

@girlmom21 - I'm not sure if she had a ring doorbell (like I do) but she heard a noise (no CCTV) and went out.

I think she just wanted no fuss, but if it had been me I'd definitely have reported the threat.

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

Why you would NOT report theft and being threatened with a knife?

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy - ah you mean at the same time. We (me and a few other neighbours) told her to report both the attempted theft and the threat.

Whether she did or not I don't know.

I'd report for both.

It's a relatively quiet street but apparently there have been break-ins mostly to garages - for bikes very recently.

I can’t imagine having someone try to steal something from me and threaten to knife me, and not calling 999. It’s for crimes in progress as well as serious crimes (being threatened with a knife is a serious crime anyway).

Well it would probably help your case if she did. Unfortunately the police have less and less time and resources to deal with theft. So the threatening behaviour bit might help.

Did you doorbell pick anything up, even if just the sound of them saying it?

@RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime

I can’t imagine having someone try to steal something from me and threaten to knife me, and not calling 999. It’s for crimes in progress as well as serious crimes (being threatened with a knife is a serious crime anyway).

@RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime - she didn't call the police at the time it happened. Not sure why! She may have called them this morning.

I've just been onto the police who said if someone had reported it then and there they'd have sent cars down.

@GodspeedJune

Did you doorbell pick anything up, even if just the sound of them saying it?

@GodspeedJune - unfortunately not.