To tell the police to sort their lives out

[Blahblahblahabla]

Police are tracking down dodgy Firestick users.

Whilst technically this is a crime.

AIBU to think no, thats fucking outrageous when you cannot be bothered to go and get someone’s stolen iPhone or other device with a tracker and a clearly know location?!

Not in the public interest.

Well its not in the fucking public interest that Jodie and Aaron have a dodgy fucking fire stick!!!

Have you got a link? Something definitely sounds off here.

Sorry but a crime is a crime. People who supply these dodgy items tend to supply other dodgy stuff too and anyone having a dodgy firestick is just condoning this.

Phone theft in London is incredibly rare compared to the number of people in London.

I’d say it’s in the public interest to clamp down on these “fire stick” users because it means it gets more expensive for us all if they don’t

I’m guessing it’s linked to a wider crime gang rather than being Dave buying a dodgy stick as a one off from Gary in the pub.

Over 100,000 phones were stolen in London in 2024. One every five minutes.

@Blahblahblahabla I agree it's a waste of resources

I think they do it because they consider it an easy way to get their figures up

Same thing happened with NCHIs

@Weegielassie yes but firstly I don't think they're going after the suppliers that would be too difficult

Secondly, there are a lot of crimes that are worth looking into because of the stuff you'll find when looking at those individuals

First example that strikes me is looking at those who jump the barriers instead of paying their train fare. I don't see the police falling over themselves to arrest and hold one of those, while they do a 1990s New York style check into their records - that would be really useful

Targeting households who used a dodgy device, not so much. To be honest, I didn't even know a dodgy fire stick was a thing until I heard about this. But imagine there's a massive crime network behind the supply, those people will be left alone. Those people always get left alone.

and here we are with corruption increasing
It's all pretty hopeless

Apologies, it's not even 9 am and I've just said that!

Sorry, edited to reply to @EmeraldRoulette

The police regularly place themselves in a group at the exit of train/tube stations pulling over anyone they don't like the look of, whether or not they've got a ticket. And they do then try and find people wanted for outstanding crime or carrying drugs or weapons. As well as fare evasion.

I guess it just hasn't happened when you've been there.

Who are Jodie and Aaron?

It will be.

Did someone just say phone theft was rare in London? 😂

Its not suppliers; they are using the tracing of suppliers bank records to release records of people who bought firesticks and want to ‘fine them heavily’.

To me this is ridiculous for multiple reasons.

1. it’s not illegal to own or pay for a dodgy firestick. It’s illegal to use one. They aren’t going to bother with that are they. Or maybe they will in which case I despair further they can be bothered to visit Jodie’s house and peer through her windows but not be bothered to raid the house of snatch and grab cyclists with a bundle of phones.

2. When you are talking about users this is a civil matter. Yes it’s criminal at scale so fair enough go after suppliers but users - no. That’s a massive overreach to be tracking all these bank details. You shouldn’t obtain data if it’s not for a legitimate use and see above - civil is not a legitimate use of acquiring data for the police.

3. This is our police force doing private work for big corps. Yes on a big scale it represents loss. But it’s not really a loss because these people cannot afford £60 a month + sky sports streaming. That’s why they have a fire stick. They were never going to pay so it’s not really a loss.

It's called anarcho tyranny, where ordinary people are harassed and controlled by the authorities over relatively minor infractions, whilst gangs, organised crime and thugs get away with all kinds.

Chesterfield widow prosecuted over bill left on late husband's car - BBC News https://share.google/Cy80EhrlvgHNeP3li

York woman, 86, convicted after car insurance typo - BBC News https://share.google/M5NiXhQxPCqpH4nB7

Talk about low hanging fruit.

@Blahblahblahabla no, they said "Phone theft in London is incredibly rare compared to the number of people in London."

As 9 million people live in London, the 100,000 phone thefts a year equates to 1.1% of people living in London having their phone stolen. I think you can argue that falls under 'rare'. If you add commuters and tourists to that 9 million it probably drops under 1%.

8.8 million people live in London and there’s an additional 20 million visit each year.

100,000 out of 29 million is less than 1%.

@BillieWiper thank you
Do you know what happens after that, please?

I'm grateful to police for what they do. I think the directions that are coming from - I actually don't know where - are probably not how officers would choose to handle things.

Do you sell dodgy fire sticks op?

I agree with you. My car was vandalised recently, police didn’t want to know. But protecting the interests of a multibillion dollar tax-avoiding corporation and they’ll jump to it. Just shit.

Because realistically it isn’t a national crime ring that makes everything shitter?

Can’t see how it impacts me in the slightest to be honest.

Whereas vandalising my car left me intimidated and £700 out of pocket.

Because allowing fraud, theft and shit behaviour means everyone things it’s okay. Things get more expensive and we all pay the price.

Wheres the news article link?

But yes, of course they will want to deal with fake products and scams. Why wouldn't they support trading standards?

Sorry, if you're addressing me I'm not sure what you mean? I guess the police would arrest whoever they pull who they think has done something criminal and then it goes from there as to whether they're charged/found guilty.

This!

But it’s not really a loss because these people cannot afford £60 a month + sky sports streaming. That’s why they have a fire stick.

Nonsense. I know loads of people with them that are perfectly able to afford a subscription, but they choose not to. It's not just people on benefits that have them, middle class people do as well. Fining a few of those is likely to scare others into paying up for their sport instead of stealing it.

I'd prefer it if they went after shoplifters. Esp those who abuse staff.

They go on about Sky Sports or whoever not making a profit and how it harms the business blah blah blah, then you see Sky giving the Premier League so much money that the clubs are paying the likes of Haaland £500,000 PER WEEK while they plead poverty due to dodgy firesticks.

It would take the UK average wage earner 13 years to earn what Haaland earns in one week (not having a go at the player here). Fuck Sky. Vive la dodgy Firestick révolution