Surely they can’t just get away with this?

[Melly1801]

Someone found my purse and before I could call to freeze the card, they’ve spent approx £700 on it. There was also cash in there, and the purse was designer. The bank is sorting the spending, and I know I won’t get the cash or purse back.

I have the address of the person who’s been buying stuff, as they’ve stupidly put it down for delivery of items. I have got this from three retailers, so it’s unlikely to be an address they’re using just for this purpose as why would it be the same one? And even if it is, there must be some sort of connection.

Anyway, the police know all of this but it doesn’t sound like they’ll do much as they’ve said they won’t even speak to the bank. The bank’s fraud team doesn’t sound like they’ll do much, other than make sure I don’t have to pay. But that’s not the point - it seems like this piece of 💩 is going to get away with this. They couldn’t even tell me that the items wouldn’t get delivered either, so not only will they get away with it, they’ll be getting free stuff too.

So am I being unreasonable to think they’ll get away with this? I wondered if anyone else had any similar experiences and what the outcome was?

As tempting as it is, I wouldn't recommend banging the door, and not due to the thief

A few years back now (pre-covid), a good friend locally had her handbag dipped and her new phone stolen. She managed to get a photo taken via the phone and uploaded to the cloud by said thief and put it on Facebook local page.

Within 5 minutes she had several people confirm the name and address of the thief, a female, known for being a thieving crackhead.

Being 5 minutes from her by car, she drove over with her husband and knocked, telling her she knew she had stolen the phone and that she had informed police, so give it back.

Thief had the audacity to say "police won't do anything so like I care", then went to shut the door on her. Husband put his foot in the way, at which point thief screams bloody murder, runs into house and calls the police.

Police knew about the theft and couldn't have cared less, in fact one of them on the phones attitude was "it's a phone we have real crimes to deal with" (or ignore if you know how bad our local force is).

However, as soon as this known drug user and thief rings, out they come.

She had accused both of them of "hitting her"- no marks at all and utter crap.

Police took friend aside and asked what he'd version was. As soon as she said she got the details via a photo put on Facebook, she was told she had broken the law! Apparently, because others had also offered to come and deal with the thief she was a criminal, it was against the law to post photos of other people for retribution, all this crap they came out with, telling her she was in line for a fine. Her husband pointed out if the police had of taken the info seriously and retrieved the phone it wouldn't have happened.

Police then arrested both of them, not the thief, on suspicion of assault and intimidation.

Luckily for both it was thrown out, but clearly it's only crime when it suits the police.

So I would chalk it up to experience as much as that's a kick in the teeth.

@Melly1801

Thanks everyone, except for the one strange comment…

Lots of stories about the shocking state of crime 😠 I will definitely be complaining if nothing is done, I’ll wait to hear back from the officer first. I’ve had tracking details from a company which confirms a parcel was delivered to the address, which is annoying as I know they’ve got something for free but hopefully this will help.

I’ve found out lots more today, and apparently the police (and another agency - I’ll let you all guess which one) are regulars round there, so hopefully they can make at least one more visit.

Definitely going to do the glitter and dog poo, maybe even a combination. And have also been checking selling sites for the purse. Will keep you all updated!

Bare in mind this person knows where you live OP!

A friend had her purse stolen while we were eating dinner in a restaurant. They were captured on cctv and were known to the restaurant. Half an hour later they were using her cards in shops and at least some of them also had cctv.

Police gave her a crime number and that was the end of that. I'd be interested to know whether anything happens behind the scenes but we just don't have the right to know, or whether these criminals really do just get away with it. It really does feel wrong.

I would have thought that someone willing to brazenly steal a purse and use the credit cards in local shops would be involved in other criminality. Wish they'd pursue these things properly as they would probably clear up a lot of other petty crime too.

@ItsCoachBombay

Someone stole my phone from my handbag once, but I had find my phone on it linked to my smart watch, I tracked it to an address local to me. Gave all this information to the police who said "nothing they could do"

I was so angry.

I went round banged on the door, a woman came to the door off her face, I said look no questions asked give me my phone back, she said she didn't have it so I rang it off my smart watch and could hear it ringing, she still denied it.

I lost my cool, told her I was gonna "knock her the fuck out" she called the police, they then arrived on blue lights, I changed tactics and became all soft and polite and tearful saying she had my phone, rang it again, police told her to hand the phone over. Got my phone back, because I caused a "disturbance" and then denied it all, and went all "soft woman, and Oscar tears"

😏

Maybe try something similar 🤷🏻‍♀️

Did the woman face any consequences from the police?

If I were feeling really nasty, I'd post in the local discussion groups that someone had used a stolen card to order goods to that address. You have evidence, so it isn't libel. Why should they walk around shame free after stealing?

Keep in mind that they have your home address!

I'd be contacting the police again and ask for them to take it seriously before you contact your local newspaper/online desk......whatever it is now.

@Melly1801

Thanks everyone, except for the one strange comment…

Lots of stories about the shocking state of crime 😠 I will definitely be complaining if nothing is done, I’ll wait to hear back from the officer first. I’ve had tracking details from a company which confirms a parcel was delivered to the address, which is annoying as I know they’ve got something for free but hopefully this will help.

I’ve found out lots more today, and apparently the police (and another agency - I’ll let you all guess which one) are regulars round there, so hopefully they can make at least one more visit.

Definitely going to do the glitter and dog poo, maybe even a combination. And have also been checking selling sites for the purse. Will keep you all updated!

I'd be doubtful it will be on the sites, from the sounds of it, chances are the person will have already passed it on, to a friend of a friend so to speak, quick and easy to turn a profit from it, and less likely to be traced.

My DC was about 14yo when he was attacked and robbed on his way home from school by a group of college kids, all wearing ID badges. They took his money and phone, slashed his backpack, punched and kicked him. He gave all the details to the police including the college the boys went to and the names he saw. It was all caught on CCTV as it was near a local pub. I did a lot of the chasing, saw the CCTV etc but by the time the police got round to asking for it, it had been so long it had been recorded over. I received a letter basically saying they had been dealing with more serious cases so there had been a delay in investigating this but, due to lack of evidence the case was being closed .

They must have shopped in at least 7 places to enable 7x £100 purchases with tap n go. Odd that, if it's not your normal spending pattern or your usual shops, they didn't have to input the PIN during the spree. My banks know my spending habits and areas where I normally shop.

@Ajl46 no none, once I had my phone back I just said "it's done now, leave it I've got my phone back" so the police left it at that. To be honest I'd already threatened the woman, pushed open her front door and stopped her from closing it, didn't fancy a court appearance for theft where I'd then have to admit to my own poor actions of "threatening behaviour" 🤣 I quit whilst I was ahead lol

God. Thinking back this happened to me - the card cloners left a huge trail of goods and also plane tickets and all sorts. I was so grateful that the bank reimbursed me that o didn't stop to think whether they'd been prosecuted. I assume not, or I'd have heard.

I had my cross body bag stolen from under my coat next to me in a Wetherspoons pub.
Had gold watch (present from son) cards and photos plus purse with small amount of cash.
I went mad. Female customer gave me her phone to cancel cards, manager gave me bank fraud number from back of his card and called police. They arrived and asked for any CCTV footage. Luckily 'spoons always have working cameras and I was able to ID two people who'd been sitting nearby but looked 'odd', sharing a cold drink. They were known to police and regularly came down from London. Police drove my son and me to the nearby station to give a statement.
The following week I received a letter from a resident living not too far from the pub, who said she'd found my bag on the towpath and would I like to collect it.
It had everything inside except watch, cards and about 20 in notes. No cards had been used before being cancelled, thanks to everyone in 'spoons who helped. Thieves got 4yrs 5 months as they were wanted on another charge too.

@CorrBlimeyGG

I had it happen to me, and like you I did all the research for them. It was the people that bought my old house. The police eventually collected my evidence and I never heard another thing about it. They see it as a victimless crime. It didn't feel that way to me.

In a way, we're all victims when it comes to this sort of fraud. Someone is paying, whether it's the banks or the retailers, and those costs will be passed on one way or another.

It's shocking that the police are so stretched that lots of crimes are effectively ignored.

Criminals rarely use their own addresses. They either drive someone nuts - we had it - ordering stuff claiming they used to live three and randomly collecting it. Or they exploit low income households which sounds likely in this case.

Hate to say it but don't really think anyone does care, bank will write it off and police will write it off and yeah the criminal will get away with it.

Same if you get a builder ripping you off even with a contract. Police say nothing to do with them fraud squad say nothing to do with them costs you thousands to go to court to get in your favour for them to still not pay, in my case also gave me a fake vat number report this to hmrc nothing done. Household insurance won't do anything as you invited them in to do the work bank won't do anything as you paid out confirming all ok (erm yep because he had started the work I had got references and viewed previous work but on ours it was substandard and building regs wouldn't sign off and trusted him when he said he needed money to purchase items such as boiler /heating. Bathrooms/kitchen)

I hope you manage to recover some of it xx sorry that this has happened xxx

The police don't give a shit about theft. They're interested in catching drivers for breaking the law but couldn't care less about people stealing, sadly.

had two cards stolen from my car, supermarket caught them on CCTV downloaded a copy for the police and card company, neither interested. Thieves used card at petrol station ATM and Harrods (over £7000 spent) got CCTV from both locations again card company and police not interested. Got my money back but as you all say that's not the point, we are all paying extortionate charges to cover this sort of crime. One upside the computer gave me a credit increase because of recent spends!!

@Dontwanttolivewithmylover

I had my cross body bag stolen from under my coat next to me in a Wetherspoons pub. Had gold watch (present from son) cards and photos plus purse with small amount of cash. I went mad. Female customer gave me her phone to cancel cards, manager gave me bank fraud number from back of his card and called police. They arrived and asked for any CCTV footage. Luckily 'spoons always have working cameras and I was able to ID two people who'd been sitting nearby but looked 'odd', sharing a cold drink. They were known to police and regularly came down from London. Police drove my son and me to the nearby station to give a statement. The following week I received a letter from a resident living not too far from the pub, who said she'd found my bag on the towpath and would I like to collect it. It had everything inside except watch, cards and about 20 in notes. No cards had been used before being cancelled, thanks to everyone in 'spoons who helped. Thieves got 4yrs 5 months as they were wanted on another charge too.

And this is exactly why the police should go after them!

Police don't bother with things like this any longer. It is really bad when you have all the information but they do nothing other than give you a crime code. Happened to me when my locker was broken into and all my cards, cash etc taken. It was all on a security camera, the credit card people had the details but...nothing. It appears that crime is no longer crime. Just look at 10 Downing Street. Nothing to see there. It happened in the past.

An elderly friend had her card stolen and they not only bought lots of stuff with it (before she realised it was gone), they even booked a foreign holiday at a high street holiday company, which involved using their passports and ID to do it. The police did exactly nothing, despite having all that evidence. So don’t hold your breath, that anything will come out of it.

Many moons ago, I noticed an odd transaction on my account. Called the bank and was told an airline ticket had been purchased on my card taking me well into my overdraft. The bank weren't fussed, told me I'd get my money back through their insurance.
Many more moons ago, in the days before Internet banking was a big thing, my mum got a call from Capital One fraud squad. They were apparently very hostile to her to begin with. Eventually they told her that she owed thousands on her card and hadn't made a payment in months. Turns out, the address on the account had been changed, new card and cheques ordered and thousands of £'s charged to the card. They obviously had the address but did nothing about it. Just reimbursed the money. It's so frustrating that they can get away with it with no consequences