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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:
baubled · 29/12/2019 21:19

@Twillow Biscuit

TotorosNeighbour · 29/12/2019 21:19

What if you don't let them into your property to retrieve the car, what happens then? Will they have to call the police?

Twittlebee · 29/12/2019 21:20

I was involved in a hit and run, thankfully I was okay apart from long lasting back and neck damage but my car was a mess and written off, the police said it wasnt in the public interest to pursue despite me getting his number plate and there being CCTV footage.

I guess police just dont care for car incidents?

ragged · 29/12/2019 21:20

Wow. What a story. Sorry I have nothing useful to write.

thedancingbear · 29/12/2019 21:20

Exactly that. At the time of writing 91% have voted YANBU.

It's highly likely that a majority of them voted Tory the other week.

slow handclap

PrettyPurse · 29/12/2019 21:22

They have refused to send anyone out and have said that we are to let them take their vehicle without the drivers details and sort it out with our car insurance.

So completely shit. I'd feel so let down by the police.

My friend had a recent experience with the police where her DS mobile was stolen. It has a tracker on it which shows the location and the police still refused to investigate

Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 21:22

@Twillow I’m really not interested in discussing politics on this thread. There is a whole topic full of threads for you to put your sarcastic comments on.

OP posts:
Yetanotherwinter · 29/12/2019 21:23

@millymae unfortunately due to the cuts that have decimated Police numbers, they are only able to attend very urgent jobs. You’ve got Theresa May to thank for creating a situation where there are too few officers to attend jobs. Yes things really are that bad. Officers spend a large amount of time on bed watches and safeguarding. The situation is dire. The Police are not failing to attend out of choice, they have to prioritise jobs. A crashed and abandoned vehicle where there are no injuries is never going to trump a juvenile missing from home, a suicidal person threatening to end their life, a violent domestic etc etc.

SweetMarmalade · 29/12/2019 21:23

That’s unbelievable!

How do you go on without the insured’s details? Yes you have a number plate but surely the insured could just state their car was stolen?!

Leaves you in a pretty shitty situation!

Hopefully your insurance company will be able to sort this out!

IdiotInDisguise · 29/12/2019 21:26

My car was hit by a van in front of three witnesses and a community officer. The police took statements and left the crime number on my windscreen.

When I called the police they told me some details, when my insurance called they “had no record of the incident” despite the police card I was given and the fact they had previously talked to me about it. I kept calling but no, there was “nothing”.

So I would say call the local newspaper and take plenty of photos before the police try to convince you your cars were hit by an ufo.

Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 21:26

@TotorosNeighbour tow driver said he will pull it back through my neighbours garden, the way it come in so I guess we can’t stop them anyway. My guess is they will come now in the middle of the night.

OP posts:
Yetanotherwinter · 29/12/2019 21:28

@Twillow yes the Tories slashed numbers and funds in the Police service. They were trying to repair all the debt that Labour’s ridiculous spending caused. I recently retired after 30 years in the Police. The tories, particularly Theresa May are hated by the Police. We’ve never had such an unsupportive Home Secretary, but let’s not forget why those cuts happened. Time will tell if things improve. Probably not.

IdiotInDisguise · 29/12/2019 21:28

Ah, and this is not about being unkind with hardworking policemen, there reduction of police Officer numbers can only be appreciated when people complain.

I also was a witness to a woman being attacked on the street. It took 3 hours for the police to come and take statement.

Rachelfromfriends1 · 29/12/2019 21:28

Did you vote Conservative? If so are you now regretting it on actual experience of the cuts in action?

This ^

In all honesty OP, it’s shit but it’s not an emergency for the police right now. Your property has been damaged, yes, but no one has been hurt and no one is in immediate danger so their attendance is currently unnecessary. The fact that only property has been damaged means that this incident is at the very bottom of the triage list, officers will eventually investigate but this is not a priority for them. It would be different if they didn’t have more important incidents to attend to, likely where people have actually been hurt.

If the other party does return and you are in danger, obviously call 999.

As far as the tow company, you can’t force them to give you the driver’s details. The only thing you can really do is sit in your cars as that would prevent them from being able to tow the car.

eveshopper · 29/12/2019 21:31

Why did the recovery guy not take the car?

Why do you think the police will come for it?

saraclara · 29/12/2019 21:31

Car has MOT, no tax. New owner September 2019.

Insurance? Because that's the thing that will directly affect you.

Danni12 · 29/12/2019 21:31

I'm sorry you are going through this, very, very stressful.... and I hope it gets sorted out soon
Sadly, the police service have been cut by 20,000 so only absolute emergency situations can be attended.

Rachelfromfriends1 · 29/12/2019 21:32

By chance, do your or your neighbours have CCTV? Will help to identify the actual driver.

You should be able to get the crime reference number by asking 101.

yellowallpaper · 29/12/2019 21:32

Driver ran away so that he could disappear for a few hours to sober up.

DialANumber · 29/12/2019 21:35

It is terrifying that we live in a wealthy country and yet have no decent public services to rely on when we want or need them. And yet, the public voted for this overwhelmingly - to not get a response from the police when you are scared, threatened and have your property damaged.

I rang 999 a few months ago and was out on hold..

eveshopper · 29/12/2019 21:36

I'm a bit confused about your insurance needing a crime number though. Why have they said that? It's not standard practice to contact the police for a crime number before telling insurers

CoCoPops55 · 29/12/2019 21:36

If it's got no tax then doesn't that void the insurance anyway? If it even is insured.

eveshopper · 29/12/2019 21:38

If it's got no tax then doesn't that void the insurance anyway? If it even is insured.

No. It as clear cut as that.

Also it may be taxed. Often cars show as untaxed when they are not.

How did you know it had a new owner OP?

NeverForgetYourDreams · 29/12/2019 21:39

I wouldn't be letting them access my garden to retrieve the car. The tow truck driver surely would be trespassing on private property if he steps foot on your land without your permission?

eveshopper · 29/12/2019 21:39

*not as clear cut