the Neanderthal
Author: 5@mwosb.co.uk
Vehicle Theft: 30 years of Complacency
The Hidden Cost of Vehicle Theft: Did Complacency Leave the UK Exposed to Organised Crime? You can lead a force to water but …. In the mid-1990s, Britain was in the grip of a vehicle theft epidemic. Over half a million cars were being reported* stolen every year, with thieves falling into three broad categories:…
The Devalued Crime Report
Some 20-odd years ago, a constabulary reported that about 30% of all ‘reports’ of vehicle theft were tainted by fraud. Why would this be any different today? 2024: I read a JDA case study with interest and urge anyone involved in the vehicle theft arena to familiarise themselves with key examination. Some wonder why I…
Vehicle Theft Surge Demands Police Action on Crime Report Disclosures
“With thefts up and recoveries down, anything we can do to help our overstretched police forces is surely welcome”. Source: ‘report process aims to cut motor claims delays and ease police pressures‘ With vehicle theft rising by 30%, from 100,000 in 2022 to 130,000 in 2023, UK police constabularies must prepare for a surge in…
FoIA – Staffordshire Police are not the worst offenders
And by this measure are treated leniently? The ‘Practice Notice’ can be read here. November 2024: Staffordshire police recognised their FoIA failings in July 2023. However, by the end of 2023, having not addressed these shortcomings, the issues were before the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) – read more here. A year on, November 2024, and…
Vehicle Repatriation
In October 2024, stories emerged about ‘Stolen luxury cars found in Thailand return to UK’ (BBC). Some 30 high-value stolen cars, exported to Thailand, were returned to the UK after a seven-year police investigation. At the date of loss, the cars were worth more than £6 million. They were described as ‘stolen by fraudsters’ in…
Crime Number Devaluation
A vehicle theft crime number is not evidence that a theft occurred. to the desk, line on the left, just one number. Next?” The value of a police reference number, indicating a report of a crime has been officially registered, diminishes if it is obtained with minimal effort or verification. Currently, a police reference only…
Manufacturers Cause Vehicle Thefts …
Really? The press explain the ease with which vehicles can be taken, vehicle manufactruers are being ´named & shamed´, keyless tech’ is to blame, car-makers are urged to ‘sort out their failures’. Think again. Criticizing vehicle manufacturers for thefts is easy, and appears reasonable but is a distraction. The conduct benefits only the thieves. Vehicle…
PNC LoS Report Weeding
‘Weeding‘; the archaic process of automatically removing a Police National Computer (PNC) Lost or Stolen (LoS) marker against a vehicle registration mark (VRM) because someone failed to ‘confirm’ the stolen allegation within 6 weeks. How many stolen vehicles have fallen foul of this process; are stolen but no longer recorded as such? Gwent Constabulary appears…
Staff-less-shire Police Report Disclosures
Your vehicle has been stolen (or other crime committed against you) and your insurer has asked for a copy of the crime report. If your insurer is not subject to the Staffordshire police selective disclosure process (electing to release to some, not others) they may find the report withheld due to the constabulary’s ‘unforeseen‘ staffing…