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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Woken in the night by people breaking into a car right outside

42 replies

Bouledeneige · 15/04/2018 04:19

I got up in time to see them running and skipping off with something they've nicked (obviously they must have broken the window and grabbed whatever it is they liked the look of). I didn't bang on the window or call the police, I was a bit bleary eyed and it happened quickly... and on reflection I wouldn't want someone taking against me and throwing a brick through my window.

Should I have done something? I don't know who's car it is. Mine's on the other side of the road.

OP posts:

himalayansalt · 15/04/2018 07:38

She didn't watch them breaking in to the car! Why can't people even read the words that are in the op? .

GuntyMcGee · 15/04/2018 07:40

A few years ago I watched someone climb a ladder and break into the house opposite mine. Called the police and gave a blow by blow a coin of what was happening. Police were there in minutes and it turned out to have been the home's owner who had locked himself out.

The local police called back to tell me that the owner had asked them to say thank you for reporting.

I was a little mortified but would I report again? Damn right I would. It could well have been a crime taking place and had it been a burglary in progress the police could have caught them. If that means another criminal behind bars it's worth it.

adaline · 15/04/2018 07:47

So you know someone broke into a car - you saw them run and know an approximate time, and you didn't call the police?

My parents were broken into last summer and as soon as they woke up and realised they rang the police and someone was there within the hour.

The guy who did it is now in jail for a string of burglaries and thefts!

HagueBlue2018 · 15/04/2018 07:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FASH84 · 15/04/2018 07:57

You should've called the police, likelihood is they did more than one car in your area that night and a police patrol could've stopped that if not caught them at it. Personally I would've (and have in the past) shouted out of the window as they ran off, if they know they've been seen they're less likely to come back. Thieves and burglars aren't usually looking for a fight they want to get away without being seen asap, but I've worked with offenders for more than a decade, so they don't hold the same mystique and fear for me. Tbh is also want to get a good look in case I recognised then as one of our regulars, DH stored a robbery in a shop course to where he works by intervening and recognised one of the robbers, it meant he was able to give a very clear description to police who then knew who they were (prolific, one a youth) arrested term and they got convicted. I think the fact it wasn't your car is a poor excuse in terms of your reaction (or lack thereof)

FASH84 · 15/04/2018 07:58

Sorry I'm not illiterate, just using a phone with awful autocorrect.

PathOfLeastResitance · 15/04/2018 08:08

I was woken by a break in opposite me, called 999, they arrived 30 minutes later and with my description they caught them in the next town within the hour. They have now been sentenced.
I truly don’t understand why you wouldn’t dial 999!

Spam88 · 15/04/2018 08:11

Surprised you didn't call 999 for a crime in progress OP, I really hope my neighbours wouldn't just get back into bed if they'd seen someone steal something from my car. You can report anonymously if you're worried about come back.

Hopefully you've at least called 101 now.

Spam88 · 15/04/2018 08:12

Hopefully you've at least called 101 now.

Spam88 · 15/04/2018 08:12

Hopefully you've at least called 101 now.

Original poster

Bouledeneige · 15/04/2018 10:04

The crime was no longer in progress. I didn't watch them break in - I heard a noise that was odd and by the time I went to the window they were skipping away with something in their hands. I didn't have a direct view and wasn't sure what had happened. At night you are not always as clear headed as at other times.

It looks like it might have been the wing mirror they ripped off - the windows are not broken.

And yes I live in London and am aware of the huge pressures on the police - a lot of stabbings and moped thieves near here.

And for your info I have actually intervened 3 times in crimes in progress - twice to protect people who were being threatened and once in a traffic incident. For a period when my XH was around woke up to the sound of someone trying to nick his moped quite regularly. I have also had a fishing rod burglary - whilst me and the 2 DC were asleep in the house when they stole my car.

I was very disappointed to be told by police that when reporting the mugging of my son it was not an emergency - 5 other boys were mugged after him by the same gang as they were leaving the same party.

OP posts:

GnotherGnu · 15/04/2018 10:09

If you'd called the police, they could have sent a patrol car to your area and the chances are they would have caught them breaking into or vandalising other cars.

DesignedForLife · 15/04/2018 10:11

You should have called the police. They probably went on to break into other cars.

BrownTurkey · 15/04/2018 10:38

Police in my area like to know if in progress or just happened as they have a chance to catch them. But might not always have capacity to respond of course.

JockTamsonsBairns · 15/04/2018 11:00

I'm genuinely heartened to hear that there are still places where the police eagerly respond to the reporting of relatively minor crimes. But it's not my experience. On two separate occasions, I have reported serious violent crimes, and the police couldn't have been less interested if they tried. Maybe they're just too busy in Glasgow? I would be utterly gobsmacked if the police were to respond to a report of a car break-in that had already happened.

2andcountingtodate · 15/04/2018 13:49

Im surprised you didnt call the police. Our neighbours were broken into, the neighbours opposite heard and reported it while their teen filmed them.

If someone had seen your ds being mugged would you have wanted them to ignore because they dont know him? What difference does not knowing the car owner make? Their car has been broken into, you report to the police.

Im sorry they were shit with your son and car but that doesnt mean you do nothing but post on mumsnet!

Celticlassie · 15/04/2018 18:30

JockTamsons, it was in Glasgow where I reported and they arrived and caught the guy red handed. Plus I reported a car being smashed up in my street once and they were with me in an hour. That was a weird one though, as the car just sat there, smashed up, for months.

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