My son left his (quite valuable) bike at a friend's house a few weeks ago, as I'd collected him by car and had too much stuff in the boot to fit it in, so it got left in the back garden. This friend is a Poor Person and lives in a very dodgy area.
When he went back to get it, he was told that it had been stolen. I went round to speak to the parents and get to the bottom of what had happened, and ask if they had reported the theft to the police so I could claim on our insurance. This was the conversation:
Don't be silly, the police don't care about nuffink that 'appens raand 'ere. And if it is 'oo I fink it is, you won't get it back anyhaaa. It's the p* family over the back there. And the police won't do nuffink anyway even if you 'ad proof. They are scared of 'em too and don't wanna rock the boat in case they kick off. This lad is a mate of my sons. He carries knives. No-one challenges 'im. They do what they want. He saw it in my garden and kept asking me if he could buy it off me. I told him it weren't aaahrs to sell, but next fing I know it's gone. The person who took it did it in broad daylight and they must have known us or my dogs woulda gone mad when they come in the garden.
But what can I do? I aint gonna grass, or give yoo 'is name. It aint worf the trouble I'd get.'
Just saying.