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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we shouldn’t still be waiting for the police?

278 replies

Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 18:53

4.45am this morning a car crashed through my front fence, hitting both our cars (parked on the road) in the process. The driver got out and ran away. We called the Police who said they would be out to us in an hour.

While waiting for them to arrive, at 6.30am, the driver/friend of the driver came back to try and get their car - we go outside and they run away again, locking their car as they do so. (Relevant as probably means it’s not stolen)

Police arrive around 10, have a look at the scene but are then called out to a more urgent job so leave. They were here a total of around 3 minutes, didn’t take any details and told us to go to the police station to complete a statement form, which we have done.

That’s it. Nothing else since.

The car is still in our front garden, smashed fence and car debris is all over the pavement and our car insurance won’t start the ball rolling until they know details of the other driver / if it is a stolen vehicle etc.

AIBU to think the car should have been recovered by now? We are worried they are going to try and come back to get their car in the night - and the only way they would succeed is by causing more damage to our fence and the cars (as they are blocking it in)

What are we suppose to do?

OP posts:
RollingOutOfBed · 29/12/2019 18:55

Have you taken photos of the scene?

Stressedout10 · 29/12/2019 18:55

Wow that's pretty crappy

GreenTulips · 29/12/2019 18:56

Call a recovery truck and get it towed or ring 111 and ask them for advise

LagunaBubbles · 29/12/2019 18:58

Make sure you have plenty photos

pinkstripeycat · 29/12/2019 19:00

How strange of the police.

zebra22 · 29/12/2019 19:00

I u swear and you’re annoyed but it’s not a life and death emergency is it

zebra22 · 29/12/2019 19:01

That should say I understand not ‘i u swear and’

Berrylove · 29/12/2019 19:01

Go let the tyres down

Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 19:03

We have took lots of photos. Called 101 to see what was happening and they said they will send someone out and the car should be recovered but they are really busy.

I appreciate they are under a lot of pressure, but it’s been 14 hours.

What should we expect to happen?

OP posts:
ShetlandWife · 29/12/2019 19:03

Take photos.

If they come back and do more damage, take more photos.

I think it's unlikely though. They will have been trying to retrieve the car before anyone noticed, now they'll know that you and the police are aware, taking the car just points the finger.

happycamper11 · 29/12/2019 19:03

Don't let the tyres down, terrible advice 🙄. Car needs I be examined by the insurance company in the condition it's been found in. Call police for an update OP

katielilly · 29/12/2019 19:04

What did the police advise about the recovery? If you call a recovery truck to remove it, surely you'll pay ?
Why aren't your insurers liaising with the police?

Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 19:05

@zebra22 I’m aware of that, but hit and run is a serious crime and is a police matter.

OP posts:
Maryjane3227 · 29/12/2019 19:10

I waited over an hour for police to arrive to get a woman I found in the street who was in a total state and claimed she had just been raped. I live in a London Borough. The operator told me I'd have to keep waiting because there were only 6 squad cars out in the whole Borough that day. When people get burgled here. The police can't guarantee a visit. Totally appreciate your shock. The thing is that police numbers have been drastically cut the last ten years. They are overworked to breaking point. Feel so sorry for people living in really high crime areas, mine is middling, not safe but not the worst. If you don't like the cuts, or feel the service is imadaquate, maybe think about who you vote for in general elections. Let's hope for a better, more supported police force in the future.

huggybear · 29/12/2019 19:11

It's not really a hit and run.

It's really frustrating I know, our company was burgled, part of a string of burglaries and 20k worth of stuff was taken. One police person came out and gave us a crime number that was it. I thought they might so a little more given it was part of a string of similar crimes and we were able to provide them with clear CCTV images...

Maryjane3227 · 29/12/2019 19:12

And good luck OP. I hope they catch the culprits.

Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 19:13

@ShetlandWife they knew we had seen them when it first happened and still come back to try get it an hour and half later.

@katielilly they just said it will be recovered but nothing has happened. Insurance won’t do anything until they have a crime reference number and the other drivers details. All we have is a logging number at the moment.

OP posts:
Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 19:14

@huggybear it is classed as a hit and run.

OP posts:
Bunnybigears · 29/12/2019 19:15

I would take photos from all conceivable angles and call 111 and ask them what they want you to do regards the car as it is not safe to be left where it is and you are not willing to pay for it to be removed as it is not your car. If they do come back to take it tonight just take more photos after it's been moved to show the increased damage.

happycamper11 · 29/12/2019 19:16

101 should be able to give you a crime reference number OP.

millymae · 29/12/2019 19:17

My advice is make sure you make an accurate note of every conversation you have with the police about the incident.
Whoever said that it isn’t a life or death situation is technically correct but surely things haven’t got so bad in this country that the police cannot come and assist the innocent party in a crime within a reasonable timescale.
Whoever thinks that 14 hours is reasonable needs to give their head a wobble.
You are not being unreasonable OP

Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 19:18

@Maryjane3227 thank you and I hope the lady got the help she needed. We live in East London. This is (thankfully) the first time we have needed to call the Police so wasn’t what I expected to happen. Seems this is the norm though.

OP posts:
Buster72 · 29/12/2019 19:20

It's a statutory offence not a major crime. (Failing to stop at an accident)

It's in the middle of the festive season perhaps the sub contractor police use for recovery are understaffed and unable to assist.

thereareotherplaces · 29/12/2019 19:20

I have a close relative in the police service. This is a really rubbish situation but they really are massively stretched. If any calls come in where someone is potentially at risk or actively in danger that would probably out rank yours. They grade incidents so deal in order of severity.
Let’s just hope the Tories decide to reverse the ridiculous cuts they made to our police service years ago 😠

LaurieFairyCake · 29/12/2019 19:22

The most important thing you should do right now if you haven't done it is write down EVERYTHING you remember with timings and descriptions of people. You will forget or be less accurate by tomorrow.

And take photos of the cars all the way round and of the street in daylight.

They will likely come back tonight and try to take it back.

I'm a bit sneaky and I'd probably print out a 'police aware' and 'do not remove' sticker.