caught on cctv

[green thing]

Hi all
two weeks ago we had our children's toys taken from outside our house 2 scooters and a ride on tractor whilst the kids were having lunch they went back out to find there thing had gone
so I looked on the cctv and found that a transit tipper van pull up and two men throwing the things in the back of the van then driving off within seconds

we bought the stuff from ebay for a few pounds and I don't think it's worth going to court
because of the cost of the stuff nicked and the fact that the cctv footage would show
our property and could lead to some sort of retaliation from there community

A neighbour called the police because they tried to steal a baby's pram left out side there house

the police have seen the footage and said they know who it is
and would like a copy I think they are more interested in the other stuff in the back of the tipper van

what should I do ?

[shirlthegirl43]

personally I would let the police have a copy of the tape, it doesn't matter how little you paid for the stuff it was yours

[hamsterqueen]

I'd let them have a copy.

The bare faced cheek of people surprises me sometime.

We had builders working here about 2 years ago, walked out the front of the house and saw 2 blokes putting builders ladder (which was down the side of our house) into the back of his estate car! He swore blind it had been left by the kerb and he thought it ws going spare...

The builder was more than going spare he was livid! He's only left it for 5 minutes

[lizzylemon]

I'd hand it over because:

A: How can they know it was your film
B: Isn't this why you had CCTV installed in the 1st place - to catch the bad guys I mean
C: Aren't you withholding evidence if you don't hand it over (or is that just on TV?)
D: They might not nick stuff quite so blatantly if they get into trouble
E: It's your stuff

[CaroltheCarrot]

I would let them have a copy,could the copy not be edited in some way in order that your property is not shown?

[moola]

I'd hand it over. If it's not your stuff they'll be trying to steal again it'll be someone elses.

Surely the police can sort things out so there are no reprisals. They will have teh technology - maybe you just need to ask and get their re-assurance

[OllieMartin]

I think the only tell-tale would be the stuff they nicked, but only if they remember where they got each thing from. They surely wouldn't retaliate against you as they know 'someone' in your area has CCTV.
If no-one does anything what's to stop them?

Do the criminals get to sit and watch it too? That'd seem a little bit dodgey to me in some circumstances. I assume the video doesn't point AT your house, but rather away?

[Two_Sheds]

I'm sure they have stolen from so many properties that they won't remember yours.

Do everyone a favour: hand over the tape

[hamsterqueen]

maybe tell the police why you were reluctant ,

[bubblewrap]

Hand over the copy of the tape to the police.
More than likely the thieves were travellers and won't be in your area for long so difficilt to catch your film may help catch them
We sometimes get travellers in or area and when the are around the amount of stuff that "disappears" goes through the roof.

[ginger ninger]

I'm in agreement with everyone else, give a copy of the tape to the police. We have some travellers near use at the moment, they think they're above the law and take what ever they want...a friend of mine had some expensive iron garden furniture taken out of her back garden, she has time laps cameras and they filmed them nicking the furniture. She gave the police the d.v.d, they went to the travellers site but couldn't find the furniture... surprise surprise.
Not all travellers are like this, I know some who'd do anything to help you, it's a shame they all get tarred with the same brush.

[swansea girl]

I would hand it over to the police but make a copy first,the police lost cctv video my mother had given them which meant my mother was victim to the same crime again,the next time it happened she gave them the cctv video and told them she had a copy in case they lost it again(they didn't) but the bloke got arrested and convicted.
If these people are not stopped they will continue,they may take something that means a lot to somebody,like the evil [insert swearword] who stole a little boys wheelchair from my area,thankfully the evil [insert swearword] has just been jailed.

[lindyloo]

it's not always "travellers" to blame. i was brought up with the understanding that when travellers are about, every local thief gets busy, because they know who will get the blame.

[madmax]

Er.... No brainer... Hand in a copy to the cops. What is the point of having CCTV if it isn't used.

So what if it shows the property? This proves to the next bunch of thieving scum that they will be watched and caught.

[di]

Yep...hand it over!
They took your property....worse kiddies toys.Doesn't matter how cheap they were....I got my boy a skateboard from a bootsale last week,cost me all of a pound,he'd be absolutely devastated if it were stolen!
Anyone that steals others property is bad news....when it's obviously kiddies stuff they're taking,that makes them scum in my eyes and they deserve to be caught!