The power of Facebook groups to catch thieves

[bazzabear]

About a week ago, someone posted on the local group to say their sons bike had been nicked from the railway station. Posted this morning to say they were at the station themselves, and the thief turned up with his mum, riding the bike, scoping for other bikes to nick!

So he's got his bike back, and posted a description. This group doesn't allow naming and shaming for much the reason above - the police have asked them not to because of potential prejudicing court cases. But lower down the thread, the thief's sister chimed up saying it was her family and how ashamed she is of them.

It's weird world.

 

[vanpeebles]

Shame they can't chop his hands off.

 

[wolfie138]

so how does facebook prejudice cases but putting pics/mugshots on crimestoppers etc doesn't?

 

[Vidar]

Wish my fb groups could identify the guys who cost me my livelihood but I guess with such a poor picture there never was much chance.

 

[Burnsy2023]

and the publishing of the pics possible prejudicing outcome

That is an issue that many people don't realise. Posting pics of suspects on social media is often very problematic for the CPS.

 

[Mcnumpty2323]

Trying to increase my
Post count doesn't bother me
I just like to help people
If I can
Most of you guys
Probably know anyway
It's a combination of post count
And time
Ie X amount of posts may
For example get you free delivery
But only after X amount of days also
I can't multi quote on my
Phone as turns into one
Huge block of text that's nonsensical
To me
I try to use edit so it doesn't make my
Post count go up
Perfectly happy for mods to merge
My replies or Dock my
Post count if they think its justified
Am getting the hang of multi
QUOTE on pc slowly just not phone
So now got a long post
Instead of multi quotes lol
Some of the first people
To PM me were 2 of the 4 local
Scrapyards
Saying if he turned up they would
Phone the police
No doubt some scrapyards
Do know they are taking nicked
Stuff but they aren't all bad
I agree with the what's difference
Between posting it on FB
Compared to crimes toppers etc
Point
@Vidar keep trying mate
Some one will know him it's just
A case of getting your post
Seen in the right place
No sentence they get if caught
Is severe enough for what you
Went through, and are probably
Still suffering from
To update
Had 2nd visit from police already
He's being nicked today
Probably already has been
He's out on license so that probably
Means any offence he's banged up
Sorry this posts so long
Due to my spacing
And to trying to answer few points
At once
So as to not bump
My post count

Edit
The leads probably long gone
Crack head wouldnt be
Stealing something he couldn't
Sell fast
Lead will be replaced with an
Alternative material
And a copious amount of
Anti climb paint applied

 

[Avalon]

I thought I'd give this a go using Africa by Toto as the tune, now I hate you and have to block Mcnumpty for my own sanity!

This will not end well.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Stuff ....

Do you post only using your phone?
If so it makes a lot of sense because
you want to see all the words on your
screen at the same time.

 

[Scania]

Lol
I know
But most people in here
Have been really good about it
And apparently not everyone
Can see my signature
Depending on device used
And settings
On the whole people have been
Very positive about it
So thanks for that

Can’t see your sig (only been here a decade or more, not quite grasped things yet) but got the gist of your posting style, which is irrelevant incidentally, that your contributing is more than sufficient.

Social media is generally a cess pit, but at times it’s fantastic.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Social media is generally a cess pit, but at times it’s fantastic.

Just like this place

 

[Scania]

Just like this place

Absolutely.

 

[koooowweeee]

so what about your roof, have they got the stuff to put back on or do you have to have the whole thing redone? if so, is there a lead alternative to prevent the same thing happening in the future?

It's called flash band. Like a thick tape. Doesn't look as good but works better as it can be stuck to the roof. Not worth anything when used.

 

[godinman]

Well done for finding the guy!

I don't mind your posting style, I just read it like the kid with asthma or whatever from Malcolm in the middle.

 

[Dis86]

Well done for finding the guy!

I don't mind your posting style, I just read it like the kid with asthma or whatever from Malcolm in the middle.

Stevie?

 

[Mcnumpty2323]

Further update
Did witness statement
Sent photos and video to police
Police woman actually pretty surprised were pressing ahead with it
As most people just regard him
As a everyday hazard of life around here
And don't bother appearing at court
Yeah there may be a sad story
Behind why he's a crack head
But to be brutally honest
He's not the only one ever had a
Hard life
And its still his choice to do what he
Does
Pretty crime is still crime and has
Victims
In my case yeah its only a bit of lead
Not the end of the world
And not caused me any great emotional
Trauma either just stressed for a day
But his thefts have to some of the
People who messaged me
And going by some of those
He's probably safer
Off in jail lol

Ps sometimes post on my phone
Sometimes on pc
My spacing is little better
On the pc

 

[BowdonUK]

Apart from naming the person publically, what is the problem with putting someones face online? TV channels do it yet they weren't considered to be prejudicing a case. The police release mug shots of suspects as well as put up cctv footage online.

As long as the person isn't named publically then whats the problem with putting up a picture if its been done for decades by the media and the police?

I don't know how long a case takes to get to a crown court with a jury (I'm assuming they go to crown court? Correct me if I'm wrong). But in this 24 hour world the average person isn't going to remember the name by the time they get to court.

These laws seem to be selectively warned against the public for some reason.

Just an observation.

 

[Mcnumpty2323]

Yeah it's hard to think why
Crimestoppers etc
Can show their photo
And name them too
But when the public do it
Then it would be different
But this guys not likely to even ask
For a trial I doubt
Video shows him bang to rights
Stuffing the lead into
His bag and walking away with it
Guess the witness statement
Is a formality
Just in case he was to ask for
Trial by jury which I think you are
Still allowed to?

 

[AiiR]

Your post count is outstanding @Mcnumpty2323

968 in just under 6 weeks, well done!

Probably due to the amount of times he's had to explain his writing style...

 

[Dis86]

Probably due to the amount of times he's had to explain his writing style...

 

[Uther]

OP you have a name, and know what he looks like. If the police did nothing I'd hunt him down and strongly suggest he put the damage right, and I wouldn't be very poetic about it.

People actually do this? stealing lead from roofing? I thought it was mostly myth/the odd church it happened to.

Happens a lot. A story popped up on my FB feed about a group of men stealing all the flagstones from the path of a church this week...
People will literally steal anything.