Echo

I was at the BP on the A40 in to London a week ago and while queuing to pay the bloke in front see's a 'gentleman' entering his car. He ran out as the bloke ran off with his phone and stuff (idiot for leaving it unlocked) and runs after him accross the dual carriageway. He caught him as he was climbing over the fence in the centre and got his stuff back. Meanwhile, the scumbag is pacing up and down ready to have another go! I asked the girl on the counter if they could call the police as their cameras would have caught the bloke's face etc - amazingly she refused saying that 'they usually steal the car' and laughed!

That's the second time I've seen that at the same garage and also have had hassle there with watch sellers that almost lived there. It seems odd that the staff were so unwilling to help and I guessed that either they are being threatened by the crooks or are in on some of this? If I've seen this happen twice and only pop in there when I have to (an Optimax addict) it must be common?

Question is, should I have rung the police anyway or would they be too busy zapping speeders?

:-(

Mike

Echo

Forgot to add that if I'd driven off with a free tankfull I bet that I'd have been subject to a knock on the door!

Grrrr

LanciaChris

Im never going to use the police for anything trivial ish ever again. A mate of mine saw a car run into mine (while it was parked), doing very little damage and setting off the alarm, then speeding away from the scene. he got a partial registration, so i went to the police. They tried to charge me with several offences for no apparent reason and then didnt help finding the guy (though i got him in the end and my money hah!).

The police said
a) your vehicle had no mot - fair enough, no mot, but when its on private property who cares? if you want to arrest someone for not having an mot on private property go to a scrapyard. ps car was not being used, awaiting parts from italy to get said mot

b) failure to present full driving license (written bit) - well, if id been asked to then i would have!!!!! I wasnt.

By the end of it I was seriously ****ed off with the police. They seemed desperate to charge me with something. Conversation I had with them tended to go :

police - so, when where you stopped?
me - I wasnt stopped, I came in here to report someone running in to my car and driving off
police - hmm. I dont understand - young driver, fast car... how about i arrest you

Luke

typical

The entrance exam had to be made easier! Cannot get into your local police????? join the met. Some of the thickest Police around.

*Sonic*

There are a few Shell Gargages on the A40 into London

BuRR

Lanciachris.... if the car was on private land, then you can't report it as an accident as if it was on a road. You're right in stating that if the car was on private land, then it doesn't need an MOT.

You could technically report it as a criminal damage though.

And from the law's point of view, the driving licence is only complete when both portions are presented together. The photo card only, is only a glorified photo ID card.

Leslie

I wonder why the police involved did not explain all that to Lanciachris insted of threatening him with arrest though.

Les

BuRR

We don't know what exactly was said...

Echo

I know Sonic, but on the wrong side of the road!

:-)

Mike

Katana

Mycroft

Supermarket car parks are private land, so does that apply too?

That means that none of us could report an accident off the Public Highway...

BuRR

Law has accepted that supermarket carparks, as well as other car parks, consitute as "public places" as far as insurance goes.

Katana

BOB.T

So if I hurtle off the road and flatten a house, I just get out and say "sorry mate, you're on private property"! walk away and not pay a penny....cool

Echo

And the odds on getting out the car after flattening a house are.....?

:-)

ajm

According to this http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ne...ory=58027.html the car park counts a s a public highway.

At lease it does if the police want to bust you for something. However if someone smashes into your car then it is suddenly private again.

God I love this country!

BuRR

There's just been a court case where a young lad got busted for driving without insurance on a car park outside working hours.

It depends whether the car park closes (like with a barrier or chain, etc) when the store closes.

ajm

BuRR, its the same link I posted over on 5ive-0.com!

BuRR

yes mate, thanks. I didn't have the time to go trawling through all the forums I read

Katana

Its not plagurism if its found on the net. Well thats my defense anyway when I get questioned in the future.

muppet paster

Personally i never use garages situated on corners...