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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:
Hellbentwellwent · 29/12/2019 21:39

This is appalling! Have you taken a load of photos? I’d also be taking photos of the tow truck towing it away and be onto local newspaper, Facebook, and local mp. The owner of that car has some bloody front!

Peaseblossom22 · 29/12/2019 21:39

Car insurers almost always want a crime number as it is against the law not to report a road traffic accident .

eveshopper · 29/12/2019 21:40

Car insurers almost always want a crime number as it is against the law not to report a road traffic accident .

This is not the case at all.

eveshopper · 29/12/2019 21:40

I wouldn't be letting them access my garden to retrieve the car.

Why not? Surely you would want the car gone?

shrill · 29/12/2019 21:41

My thoughts exactly yellowallpaper! Thank heavens it wasn't a case of any human under the wheels.

chatongris · 29/12/2019 21:42

Can you take your photos and other evidence down to the police station and make a complaint? Would that get you the crime number you need?

We live on a bend that cars often take too fast, and something very similar has happened to us twice, so I feel for you because it's a massive hassle getting it all sorted out especially if your insurance company decides to be difficult. The first time it happened to us, the car (a large SUV) not only took out our garden wall and gate, but also the mains gas supply Shock.

BackforGood · 29/12/2019 21:42

YANBU to think this should have been sorted a LOT better.
Howver, as so many are trying to tell you, we are not surprised it hasn't as this is how badly understaffed police - and all publicly funded - services are.
Unfortunately, people take no notice of the reality of what has happened to all publicly funded services until if affects them directly. Human nature to some extent I suppose, but the voting in the last general election seems to prove that most people have no idea of the terrible state all publicly funded services are in.

FixTheBone · 29/12/2019 21:42

Our neighbours shot a rifle into our conservatory, reported to the police, still waiting 5 years later for a police officer to contact us.

I would have thought when one of the occupants was removed from the house in a body bag, and the other a year later was dragged out by armed police for shooting up the local pubs they may have wanted some statements about previous firearms behaviour... Apparently not.

Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 21:46

@eveshopper 101 advised the car would be recovered today. When the recovery vehicle showed up, we assumed it had been sent by police. Until he had the keys.

OP posts:
ChristmassySpice · 29/12/2019 21:46

It's really not classed as a hit and run unless a person was injured (a driver or pedestrian)

Sorry it's taken so long. Police are massively stretched. More so at this time of year.

My neighbour attacked and maimed a man with an axe recently. Took police 36 hours to respond (various factors involved)
But my god when they did respond, they sent armed response unit.

eveshopper · 29/12/2019 21:47

101 advised the car would be recovered today. When the recovery vehicle showed up, we assumed it had been sent by police. Until he had the keys.

Why would the police be recovering the car? I'm sure when they said it would be recovered today they meant by the owner/owners insurance company. The police have no need to recover the car.

Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 21:47

@saraclara sorry, yes car is insured just not taxed.

@eveshopper - the last V5 was issued in September

OP posts:
Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 21:50

@NeverForgetYourDreams I’m not sure how we could stop them. It’s been left as the tow driver is going to get the vehicle owners brother - that means 2 men (at least)

I really don’t want it to kick off. Especially as I’m not convinced the Police would be here in any suitable time to help.

OP posts:
MadeForThis · 29/12/2019 21:52

Get the details of the tow truck company. Pass this to your insurance company. Take a photo of the tow truck driver with the keys.

If this a high end car that would have a tracking system installed?

If not how did the owner know where to recover the car if he tries to claim it was stolen?

I would chase this with your insurance company rather than the police.

Equanimitas · 29/12/2019 21:53

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

That excuse really doesn't wash almost ten years since Labour lost power. Surely at some point the Conservatives have to own the effects of their policies?

Sushiroller · 29/12/2019 21:54

I'd block access for the recovery truck and phone the police again.

What cheeky fickers they are
So sorry this happened to yoh

ChristmassySpice · 29/12/2019 21:54

So much bonkers advice on here.
Please do co-operate with officers needing to check the scene / your property.

Ex copper speaking. Most of my mates still serving. I also have to agree whole heartedly with @BackforGood I hadn't wanted to bring politics into it, but simply cannot sit on my hands anymore after being in the front line and seeing / feeling the total decimation. Emergency services cannot cope. It's gone beyond the absolute breaking point.

Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 21:56

@eveshopper 101 advised they would be sending someone to recover the vehicle, along with a police officer.

When I called them back to say that the owner has sent their own recovery and asked if someone would be attending, I was told that they can see on my notes that that’s what I’ve been told but it’s not going to happen.

So basically, I should never have been told it as it’s not something they are going to do. A complaint has been put in about that part of it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 21:59

@MadeForThis the recovery truck didn’t have any company logos on but he did give the name of the company and we took photos of the registration number.

We have called said company to find out what’s going on and unsurprisingly it’s not one of their vehicles.

OP posts:
eveshopper · 29/12/2019 22:01

You can't stop the car owner from having his car recovered. He is allowed to do that. I'm quite confused about the advice from both your insurance company and the police. There were no injuries. This is a matter for the insurers to sort out, not the police.

Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 22:03

@ChristmassySpice that’s the sole problem I have here - the officers aren’t coming to check the scene or our property.

As it stands we have the car still in our front garden, 2 smashed up cars on the road and fence & car debris all over the pavement (since 5am this morning). An apparent tow driver collecting the brother of the vehicle owner (An hour and half ago) and no police coming out to us.

OP posts:
Twillow · 29/12/2019 22:04

@Shoeshow 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.

I'll take that as a "yes I voted Conservative but I didn't actually realise the cuts were so bad", then. Not sarcastic at all, just really mad how people don't seem to understand that politics actually affects everyday life.

Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 22:05

@eveshopper when it was first reported we didn’t know the owner was going to come back and try and get the vehicle back (twice). We still don’t know their details either.
We assumed it would be a stolen car as the driver fled. If this had been the case, who would recover the car from our front garden?

OP posts:
eveshopper · 29/12/2019 22:07

Hours have passed though, so while you didn't know initially you have done for a long time now. You can't stop the car owner from taking his car.

Original poster
Shoeshow · 29/12/2019 22:07

@Twillow you can take it as you please, doesn’t mean you are correct. I won’t be discussing it with you or anyone else as it’s really none of your business.

OP posts:
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