Stupid police

scratch · 3 Jun 2008 at 14:11

A few weeks ago an old Nissan Micra appeared at the end of our street in the location indicated by the arrow on the following picture:

We live in a road which once opened out onto a main road through Portsmouth, but they closed the end of the road off and put a pedestrian crossing there instead.

Anyway this Micra was "dumped" about a metre away from the kerb, right in the middle of the turning area and caused an absolute nuisance. After a week we decided enough was enough and phoned the council to get it removed. Within a few hours the car was gone.

Wind forward a few weeks and I was talking to the guy that runs the corner shop and he mentioned that the Micra was a stolen car. The thieves dumped it there and stole something else more exciting from round the corner (who blames them!). Now what amazes me is that about 200yds south of that pic is Portsmouth Central police station, and the road that runs north and south is always littered with police cars going to and from the station. The Micra was parked in plain view of anyone going up and down that road and the number plates were still on the car. HOW DID THEY NOT NOTICE THE STOLEN CAR?!!!!! It took a phone call from a concerned citizen us to say "here it is..come and get it" before they realised!!

I seriously hope my car never gets stolen in Portsmouth!

Akira · 3 Jun 2008 at 14:12

You'd think the huge red arrow would have given it away, wouldn't you?

Skeeter · 3 Jun 2008 at 14:14

Akira said:
You'd think the huge red arrow would have given it away, wouldn't you?

ROFL!

Delboy · 3 Jun 2008 at 14:14

Akira said:
You'd think the huge red arrow would have given it away, wouldn't you?

Oh thats an arrow is it? I thought there was a giant fallic statue in portsmouth

scratch · 3 Jun 2008 at 14:21

Delboy said:
Oh thats an arrow is it? I thought there was a giant fallic statue in portsmouth

Funny you should say that as the flat-roofed building with the red door is actually a sculptors workshop, so it's perfectly feasible

[TW]Fox · 3 Jun 2008 at 14:22

Perhaps it wasn't reported as stolen? Perhaps your average police officer doesn't have the UK Stolen Car database imprinted in their head?

BenhB · 3 Jun 2008 at 15:41

It's Somers Town.. Every other car is stolen isn't it ?

Glaucus · 3 Jun 2008 at 15:44

Because policemen can memorise 10s of thousands of registration plates.

why didn't the shop owner or you simply walk across the road and report it to the police.

WillyNelson · 3 Jun 2008 at 17:11

scratch said:
We live in ... Portsmouth

That's your main problem, right there.

Howard · 3 Jun 2008 at 17:32

Akira said:
You'd think the huge red arrow would have given it away, wouldn't you?

Lmao

scratch · 3 Jun 2008 at 19:19

BenhB said:
It's Somers Town.. Every other car is stolen isn't it ?

It's North Southsea not Somerstown!!

You from Pompey then mate?

As for the stolen car it was apparently on the PNC, and I thought quite a few police cars are fitted with ANPR nowadays so there's no need for officers to remember number plates. There's traffic and unmarked cars aplenty which travel up and down that main road.

FrostedNipple · 3 Jun 2008 at 19:37

How does the ANPR work when they are driving past a car then?

Begbie · 3 Jun 2008 at 19:48

Does it not read the plate and bring it up on there in car pc? If its the same thing as on road wars it does.

BenhB · 3 Jun 2008 at 20:52

scratch said:
It's North Southsea not Somerstown!! You from Pompey then mate?

LOL, I never heard it called that before! I live in Southsea

The Police trust the likes of your good self to report these things. They can't check literally every car they see!

But, if it was parked on a double yellow at 3 in the morning, it would at least get a ticket.

Akira · 3 Jun 2008 at 21:03

I wish there really was a 'Stupid Police', to get those knobs that don't accelerate till the end of the sliproad or drive miles in the 3rd lane with their right indicator flashing, and text while driving. I actually saw one tosspot the other day, right behind me, one hand holding a mobile to his ear and the other texting on a mobile, resting on top of the steering wheel. I was properly gobsmacked, even more so had I needed to brake hard. Bring on the stupid police.

Tax Evader · 3 Jun 2008 at 21:05

My old man's a policeman and he's ****** stupid

scratch · 3 Jun 2008 at 21:17

North Southsea is the area surrounded by Winston Churchill Avenue, Somers Road, Elm Grove and Victoria Road North. Right next to Somerstown but it is different..honest!!