to be a bit freaked out by this!!!

[mummycake]

I work in a large primary school in Derby. The area were I work is in a fairly run- down area but the school itself appeared very secure with 10 foot high metal spiked fences around the full perimeter, electric gates to get in and full cctv throughout therefore I always felt secure parking there.
However on Friday my car was broken into and my sat-nav taken in broad daylight the window was completely smashed and when told of this I was naturally quite upset!
The police were informed and they told me they wouldnt send an officer out but gave me a crime number- this infuriated me and other staff who felt because the school security had been breached then they should come out and investigate and so I called them back and they said they may send out a forensic officer but I would have to wait.
During this time the cctv was examined by the caretaker and office staff who realised that the break in happened during breaktime when the children were all out( the playground is next too and overlooks the carpark!!) On further examination of my car it was realised that the person that broke into my car did it with a screwdriver and therefore entered the school grounds armed with this!
I appreciate that I made a huge mistake leaving my sat-nav in the car but I really did feel safe, in fact other staff have since informed me that they leave their cars unlocked there! I felt that the headmistress didnt support me enough as I was expected to get straight back to work and an hour after the break in she went home! It also came to my attention afterwards that she was reluctant to call the police!!
I most certainly accept that by leaving my sat nav there that I allowed myself to be targeted but do you think the headmistress could have supported me more particularly as the other staff felt outraged also.
The police eventually told me to do my own forensic work and take glass samples e.t.c, the next day a forensic officer came out but little could be done.

I am sorry your car was damaged and satnav taken I would be p'd off if it was me esp if just given a ph no and no officer came but TBH I would be more concerned that someone came onto school property while children were playing with a weapon [if it was used fpr criminal damage it is a weapon imho] where is the safety concerns re that I would be furious if I was a parent to think that security could be breached like that, I would be complaining to a higher officer and to MP's I want police to be police not paper pushing office workers [am sure they do aswell] I also do not want to have to do their job for them chain of evidence etc.

Most heads would consider it a private matter between you and the police but she could have been more considerate towards your feelings. Although as you said, it is worrying that a person got onto the premises armed with a screwdriver while the children were out. I would have thought the head would want to know how the person breached security and would have wanted to talk to the police herself. Not necessarily for your sake but for the safety of the children.

I once had a person drive into the back of me while stopped at a round-about, on the way to school. There was slight damage and I wasn't injured, although rather shaken up, but was teaching within an hour!

Wow.
I'm in Australia and I have had my car broken into several times and I don't call the police. Quite frankly, they wouldn't give a rip.
IMO you're fortunate the police came.
And I would expect sympathy from work mates, but not much else...
That's not to say I'm judging you OP. We are all different and respond differently to things.

mummycake with all due respect I feel you just need to calm down and stop acting so dramatic.

Your SatNav was stolen. You left if in the car. I'm sorry for this but shit happens.

Someone carrying a screw driver broke a window. All this talk of people with "weapons" cavorting around a school is quite frankly a bit of a giggle. Its a screw driver - its not a weapon unless you try to harm someone with it. Using your logic....I bet the school has some scissors on site as well. They could be considered a weapon as well. The pens also a weapon and heaven forbid they have some javelins in the sports locker.

There is a world away from an opportunist thief grabbing a sat nav and going on a screw driver rampage killing innocent children.

Did you really expect an armed response car or something. I'm not sure what you expected the police to do. How long had it been since the break in? The thief would have scattered to sell the loot not hung around waiting for the police. So if its anything over 10 minutes then they'll be long gone.

No wonder the governments loves it they've got us all so scared of going out the front door!

I've had my car broken into a few times but only when I've left stuff out - my bag etc. Have never called the police as didn't intend to claim in insurance - not worth losing no claims. Leaving sat nav inside is a big mistake especially in a run down area - sorry but you live and learn.

I didnt bother reporting to the police when my satnav was stolen. I think you are being unreasonable. Not sure what you expect the head to do.

I'm sorry your car got broken into, that sucks.

But to be honest, I'm not sure what else you expected from the school...compassionate leave?! I too would have expected you to get straight back to work, you weren't assaulted. I'm a teacher too, you just get on with it, there is nothing to be shaken up about. I've had my car broken into and it is a creepy feeling when you get back in, but that's it. I also don't know what you hoped her to do by hanging around to hold your hand, the school itself wasn't broken into, just a piece of private property that you were dealing with, the school has no liability.

Our school has tight security (gates etc) too, but it certainly wouldn't stop someone getting in. A screwdriver is a common B&E tool, sio it sounds like they came with the intention of doing what they did, not loitering round the school causing mischief.

Hi honestly I am not a dramatic person and take full responsibilty for leaving the sat nav on display- it was a shock though and I did get upset- Its not worth claming on the insurance so through my own oversight I have lost nearly £300. My only issue was that it was done on school property whilst the children were out I am unsure what the parents reactions will be but I know all the other staff were shocked and expected me to be better supported! I know its not the end of the world and shit happens but I am not a robot it did upset me!

you are overreacting.

The school wasn't broken into - a car was. It didn't happen in the (secure) playground it happened in the (unsecured) carpark. Tbh I don't even see why
parents need to be told.

Sorry to not explain myself further it was a group of parents outside the school who reported this to the head some of them were very annoyed! The carpark was as secure as the playground as it is all within a 10 foot high fence! There is only a small wooden fence between the car park and playground so it was as secure thats the thing I really thought my car was safe! I appreciate I may have overreacted it was just a massive ball-ache having to sort it all out and obviously we havent the money to replace the sat nav!

ooohhh I'm from Derby originally, go back every few months. It's really going downhill isn't it?

It's normal to be upset over this, but to be honest there's not a whole lot the police can do. Yes, a forensic/crime scene officer can come out and check the car, fine. But there's no reason that the rest of the information can't be taken over the phone, to get officers available on the street for what are termed as "persons" crimes which take priority over "property" crimes. Nobody was hurt or threatened. There was obviously a time delay. An officer could only come out and say "yup, your car's been broken into...." and isn't that a bit silly?

Yes, school security has been breached. Isn't that more a concern for the school than for the police? They need to consider how someone managed to be roaming within the car park without anyone noticing. But they weren't in the general area of the children, and they weren't brandishing a screwdriver at the children.

An expensive lesson, I agree. But I think that you are possibly not looking at this in perspective - the police have to prioritise things, and delayed reports of vehicle break-ins are low on the list of priorities unfortunately.

You go to a school with an entry system at the gate, you buzz to say you are there to visit your child's form teacher, they let you in. It is easy to access school grounds, the security gets tighter when people enter the buildings. School grounds aren't completely sealed to deny acces to the public. If the children are out at playtime they are supervised by adults, not exactly left undefended, so really I think you are over-reacting about this. Someone saw you drive in with sat nav, or even saw you park up and leave it handy (ie a parent?) and decided to have a go for it.
As a responsible member of the school staff I think that, rather than speculating about how upset parents are going to be, you should be talking to any parents that ask about this rationally and treating the incident with some reasonable perspective.
"felt that the headmistress didnt support me enough as I was expected to get straight back to work and an hour after the break in she went home!". Yes, of course you were expected to go straight back to work. Your car got broken into, shit happens. Your headmistress went home, so what?