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Post by Gene Hunt on Oct 16, 2022 9:10:54 GMT
Well, what a week I've had.
My home was broken in to in the early hours of Thursday morning while we were alseep upstairs. I awoke early and ready for work at 5.30am to discover that someone had been in the house, gaining entry by snapping out the locks on the front door. The thieving bastards knew what the were looking for and after searching through all dowstairs cupboards, they found my wallet and car keys. Yep. You guessed it. They took my beautiful Audi Quattro. The Quattro had a factory fitted tracker in it so I immediately tracked the car and was given a location just a couple of miles away. I rang 999 to report the crime and give themm the location of my car and also informed the Police that I was on my way there too. I go there just moments before the Police but couldn't see the car. So, I refreshed the tracker and it reported that the car was still in the same area. It is usually accurate to within a few feet. There were garages to the sides of some properties so I asked the attending officers to search. They refused point blank, saying they did not have to power to do so. I argued that I was presenting them with 'live' evidence with the tracking details but they wouldn't budge. I got a little irate and was then told to leave the scene and return home. They would follow me and another team would be on the case straight away. This was not the case. My brother kept watch on the house for an hour or so. Montoring various comings and goings and notable one visit by two youths wearing all black and grey - identical to the clothes of those that broke in to my house (I have CCTV footage of the whole thing). The Police were again informed but did absolutely nothing. We eventually received a visit from them but they couldn't care less about the car or wallet and just rambled on about how we could improve security around the home. Bolly was furious and asked them if that was all they had to offer and if so then to leave. I was able to continue tracking my car to the same location for a few hours and then at 11.30am it disappeared off the radar completely, never to be seen again.
A horrible time for us as a family to have had this brace of scum inside the house while we were totally unaware upstairs. We are finding it difficult to relax now, especially at night, but we are also fully aware that things could have been so much worse. Had I have been disturbed and gone downstairs I could well have been facing a prison sentence now because I would have maimed the pair of them for life. Alternatively in this day and age, I could have been stabbed or shot. To say I am angry is a massive understatement.
However, that anger has been put to one side as I also received so other rather distressing news the following day. Those who attended the recent Spring & Port Wine Meet will still be remembering a wonderful day spent in the company of Bernie & Pauline. Sadly, Pauline was rushed into Hospital a couple of days ago and has had to undergo 5 operations to save her life. Bernie has kept in constant touch and when I spoke with him yesterdady evening there was finally some good news to report. Pauline was recovering very well and is now hoping to be returned from intensive care to a general ward in the next 24-48 hours.
Extremely worrying and certainly puts things into perspective. A car can be replaced. A life can not.
On behalf of myself and all 4:3tv members, I have wished Bernie our sincerest good wishes and love to Pauline and hope for a quick and full recovery.
I will keep you posted.
Gene.
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Post by Sam Tyler on Oct 16, 2022 9:49:44 GMT
Strewth, what a crap week! I'll come to the car after but really sorry to hear about Pauline. She's a lovely lady and was wonderful company throughout the meet. Despite her previous health issues she had a good early life memory and contributed really well with chat about Fred Dibnah. It is really sad that so soon after the meet she's had a sudden health issue and to have to undergo five operations would test anyone's mettle let alone someone at that stage of life. I hope she recovers well but doesn't rush to get well, better to ease back into good health than to overdo it. Please give our best wishes to Pauline via Bernie and let them both know that we're thinking of them and willing her on. From feelings of worry to feelings of violence: Being broken into like that must have been a scary experience especially the not knowing until rising in the morning. If they hadn't found the keys would they have used menace? Who knows with the runts that are about these days. A very disturbing situation but incredibly frustrating knowing that you could have been feet away from recovering the car but the coppers doing nothing about it. I know only too well the pride you've taken in your cars and how immaculate they are kept but to have these scum enter the house, rifle around for your keys and wallet and then to make off with it would definitely bring out a violent streak. I can't believe the coppers were so submissive to the issue and then to add insult by telling you how to improve security, well it beggars belief, what are they there for? It makes me wonder just how much investigation is done ever? Do they ever consult mobile phone companies to trace if phones entered a property at that time? They're all traceable but seemingly too much trouble to follow up. I know the insurance company haven't done you any favours either but the biggest worry would be what the scum could have done when in the house. I'm sure I'd be setting up some method of security that was illegal. I hope you get some recompense some way. Thinking of you and your family mate. Sam
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Nightfly
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Post by Nightfly on Oct 16, 2022 10:36:44 GMT
Sorry to hear this, Gene. Mrs Nightfly (before she became Mrs) had a break-in whilst she slept. Her car was found burnt out a few miles away. Police did attend within hours (though this was 20 years ago!) and dusted for fingerprints. A few days later they reported positively that the prints were linked to people in the area known to them. We never heard anything further. I don't like to criticise the police, but it does seem like they're just not bothered these days when it comes to material loss. Oh, the insurance will cover it etc.
When we moved into the current house 5 years ago, I replaced the two locks with anti-snap locks for around £40 each. Locksmiths quoted £100 to fit them, but I watched a few videos and found they were easy enough to fit myself. I'm the world's worst DIYer. I have to remind myself that the sharp bit of the nail goes into the wall etc., but it took 10 minutes - a couple of screws, nothing else. The brand I got was ABS Avocet, though I'm sure there are others if you are looking to replace.
Sorry to hear about Pauline. Glad to hear there are signs of recovery.
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Post by Perfect Pseudonym on Oct 16, 2022 11:33:05 GMT
Sorry to hear the news regarding Pauline. Going by the reports of the meet she's obviously a delightful lady, so it's wrong that she should have to endure what she has had to in such a short space of time. I send my best wishes for her recovery, and as Sam says hope she has a steady and not rushed recuperation.
Sorry to hear that modern police do appear to be completely useless, as I've seen and heard many examples of in recent times. No personal experience of this so far (touching wood), and am dreading the time I may have to sort of ask for their assistance if they're not too busy.
Of course, send out a tweet which might slightly upset someone without actually physically harming them nor disrupting their life in any way, and they will swing into action straight away, and in numbers. But getting them to actually get their hands dirty recovering property that has been unlawfully spirited away from you, well, it's just too much hassle isn't it? Still, free security advice, so can't be all bad. I presume it was free.
Anyway you know all this, and obviously have plenty of your own anger to spare, so I'll just offer my sympathies and hope that you and the household can get over this quickly and move on. Although I know that it can't be easy.
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Post by Gene Hunt on Oct 16, 2022 11:43:57 GMT
Sorry to hear this, Gene. Mrs Nightfly (before she became Mrs) had a break-in whilst she slept. Her car was found burnt out a few miles away. Police did attend within hours (though this was 20 years ago!) and dusted for fingerprints. A few days later they reported positively that the prints were linked to people in the area known to them. We never heard anything further. I don't like to criticise the police, but it does seem like they're just not bothered these days when it comes to material loss. Oh, the insurance will cover it etc. When we moved into the current house 5 years ago, I replaced the two locks with anti-snap locks for around £40 each. Locksmiths quoted £100 to fit them, but I watched a few videos and found they were easy enough to fit myself. I'm the world's worst DIYer. I have to remind myself that the sharp bit of the nail goes into the wall etc., but it took 10 minutes - a couple of screws, nothing else. The brand I got was ABS Avocet, though I'm sure there are others if you are looking to replace. Sorry to hear about Pauline. Glad to hear there are signs of recovery. I've never been one to criticise the Police (except the division that prides themselves on doing drivers for doing 34 in a 30 zone). The experience this week though has left me feeling very disappointed in them. When presented with clear evidence from the tracker they had NO excuse to walk away from the scene without doing anything at all. Ive changed the locks now to 3××× anti snap. It's an added deterent but nothing is 100%. It's a matter of delaying these scum as long as possible in their attempts at entry. Gene.
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Post by Windy Miller on Oct 16, 2022 11:49:43 GMT
I’m really sorry to hear about what’s happened Gene. It all sounds absolutely dreadful, and it is even more shocking to hear it happened whilst you and your family were asleep in your own home. I’m just glad neither you nor your family got hurt in this appalling incident.
It also sounds like you’ve been failed quite badly by the police. To have your stolen car within reach and then for the police to take no further action is completely remiss on their part.
I’m also very sorry to hear the news about Pauline. She is such a lovely lady too.
Please pass on my sincere best wishes to Bernie, and tell him I have my fingers crossed for Pauline, and she gets back to good health again soon.
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Oct 16, 2022 12:48:38 GMT
Sorry to hear your bad news Gene, and hope that Pauline recovers.
I'm not a fan of the modern police I'm afraid, they're more interested in the kind of stuff PP mentioned, and booking you for marginal speeding infractions. Jack and Gene would deal with real crime much more efficiently
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Post by D.C. Burtonshaw on Oct 16, 2022 18:37:56 GMT
Extremely sorry to read that his has happened Gene and to your family and home, unbelievable - makes me so furious about the world we live in at times - the fact that people (if you can call them that) can just think of doing this with no qualms and the response from the police was not impressive at all.
It resonates with me to a certain extent as my late dad's car was taken off the driveway in the middle of a weekday night in April 1984 and was never seen again - and that was in the day when the majority of cars didn't even have alarms. The car was never seen again. That also shocked us at the time, but it was even worse for you and your family as they came into your private house - Unforgiveable!! I'm also so glad you and your family were also OK and left alone by those cockroaches, but of course they've been there and violated your privacy and I'd hate to think how I'd react if it happened to me too!! Makes me ruddy sick!
I do hope you can be properly compensated for this and you and the family can get over this quickly and that this never ever happens again. I'm not anti police as such but that's very disappointing of them to say even when presented with the evidence they just can't do anything, - I'd be just as gutted. Sadly it seems it's been this way for car crime for some time now. I'd like to think that it's just as frustrating for the officers themselves, that they can't do more but from the public's point of view that doesn't help their view of the situation.
On a different note, very sorry to hear the worrying news that Pauline suddenly has been unwell recently and had to go hospital. Hope that she can recover very soon and that the operations hopefully went well. I was actually still thinking today of the meet 2 weeks ago, and how much they added to it with their lovely company and anecdotes.
Please send my very best wishes to Bernie and Pauline for Pauline's health and gradual recovery. Also good on you for keeping in regular touch with Bernie during this difficult time.
DCB
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Post by John Steed on Oct 16, 2022 20:25:02 GMT
I was very shocked to hear of this alarming incident Gene. I can only imagine how bad it has been and it must have caused you and your family a massive amount of worry. I have been the victim of vehicle crime on 3 separate occasions (not as traumatic as your incident - attempted vehicle theft, car damage, and van broken into) but on each occasion the Police have been less than helpful and given me a crime number but very little help otherwise. I hope it all works out well for you Gene; it is probably a blessing that they found the car keys and left without confrontation. I am also sorry to hear about Pauline's health scare and hope she makes a good steady recovery. Please send my best wishes to her and Bernard when you speak to Bernard.
Steed
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Post by Dirty Epic on Oct 17, 2022 7:17:39 GMT
Dear me it doesn’t rain it pours sometimes and you think you’re having a bad week. Firstly I’m very thankful you and your family (who I know personally and consider great friends) were not harmed or worse by these scum Gene. As lovely as the Quattro was it’s a car and a car can be replaced… lives can’t and as politely as I can put it the rats who do this sort of robbery will unfortunately go all the way to obtain what they want. Sadly they’re ‘organised’ usually working within a gang or OCG set up and in many cases carry knives and even guns when they do this sort of thing. What angers me about this is you’ve worked hard, damn hard to get a nice car and provide for your family and do it all the right way. These scumbags just walk in and violate this and usually whenever things come unstuck for them – which it usually does, they leave a trail of mayhem they do their best to calmly walk away from and deny and it’s usually some poor sod who has nothing to do with it that comes of worse from their ‘activities’. They never work and have no intention to but, they're not true working class either they'll **** with anyone who has what they want, get's in their way or tries taking them on and they're a menace in the community many of which are blighted by their activities usually 80% or more hard hardworking decent people who want nothing to do with this lazy, scumbag minority in their midst. Unfortunately I've no solutions to this which I think sadly we're stuck with for now. The police are also in a damned if they do, damned if they don't situation when dealing with these individuals and do sometimes give the impression they're don't care or can't or won't act against them. Maybe the judicial process needs beefing up against these 'individuals' but don't think it will and I do think certain sections of the media which glamorises this 'gangsta' lifestyle haven't really helped matters here either and encouraged impressionable imitators too. For me they simply had no right to do this but until things change it’s going to be one those ‘way it is’ ‘sign of the times’ things that happens. You hear about it every other day but you never think it’ll happen to you or someone close to you and when it does it’s as much of a shock to the system hearing about it than it is for your friend or loved one to have experienced it. Once again my very best wishes to you Gene and to your family mate, I know and this is easily said than done and I know it wont be easy as the experience will linger but get this horrible event out of your system and you’ll move all on to better things in the future which I know you and your family will do and achieve great things. Unlike the rats who've done this, this scum is only headed one or two places and it’s a lifestyle some choose some fall into but it isn’t a place I’d like to be and hopefully they’ll hopefully come unstuck one way or another. I'm very sorry to hear about Pauline too. Pauline and Bernie were extremely nice to us all on the S&PW and their situation has been a something they’ve had to manage for many, many years. Pauline was lovely lady with us all on the meet and it was my pleasure to meet and chat to her on the Sunday. I can fully understand the situation as my mum has a similar but unrelated condition like Pauline's and know how tough that can be on those around them like carer's and Bernie has done a smashing job in this regard for many years too. Once again please pass on my very best wishes to them both (smashing people) and here’s wishing a speedy recovery too. All the very, very best DE!
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