Can I catch a thief?
Posted by GeneAccomplished5325@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 93 comments
I live in a city in the UK. Every night, someone walks up my road trying all he car doors to see if any are unlocked and, when they find one, they get in, shut the door and go through the interior looking for anything valuable. I think this is happening sometime after midnight.
I have bought a small PIR motion sensor camera that I’m going to mount in my car that records video and sends an alert to my phone when the door is opened.
If the system works and I get an alert, should I rush outside, apprehend the thief, disable them and phone the police?
CreativeAdeptness477@reddit
Go for the full Magnavolt system installation and have done with it. Magnavolt, the final word in auto security. No embarrassing alarm noise, no need to trouble the police, and it won't even run down your battery.
(https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7U4ZYOBzEEs)
I know this is flaired serious only but this is on par with your own suggestion regarding disabling and apprehending them yourself. Don't do that. That's a great way to get yourself stabbed.
Magnavolt. Lethal⚡Response
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
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MarkCairns67@reddit
Yes - if you want to be charged with assault for whatever happens when you try to apprehend and 'disable' him.
Just take a video and lodge a complaint on the police website.
cwright017@reddit
This advice is nonsense. You can legally apprehend a criminal to stop them damaging your property / breaking in etc.
If you grab him and a few punches are exchanged or you use reasonable force ( reasonable here being you don’t know if they are armed or not, don’t know if they are violent or not obviously can’t just shoot them or torture them ) then you’ll be fine. You do not have to let someone hit you or your property before you defend yourself or your property.
Example here we had a guy robbing cars down my road. My camera caught him in my yard one night, I took a cricket bat and smacked him in the knee from the side and then held him until police came. All was fine.
TheRealGabbro@reddit
The key point being YOUR property. If they are stealing from neighbours cars, it’s not your property.
Luton_Enjoyer@reddit
Print out a photo of them, leave it in your car for the thief to find.
Master-Trick2850@reddit
You'd probably get arrested for assault, in this country you can do barely anything against thieves before the police spend more time prosecuting you
The official advice is "run away"...
Mezcalico@reddit
Disable them?
MiskonceptioN@reddit
[ Removed by Reddit ]
LotharLotharius@reddit
Pacify
Alternative-Emu2000@reddit
Of course. With a single karate chop to the back of the neck. Which will be expertly gauged so as to render the thief instantly unconscious, without causing any permanent damage.
BigFloofRabbit@reddit
Probably just means grab them and sit on them.
Significant-Fan7218@reddit
Probably already done to be fair .
Who's going to nick a fucking car stereo?
'Er, here you go mate, top of the line Sony 20 quid. Ok, 10.... alright a fiver and you can have a go on my wife. SHARON, knickers off love,
OldBorktonian@reddit
Vaporise
wowsomuchempty@reddit
Neutralize
DB-DanCooper@reddit
I honestly believe you should consider wearing a mask and cape and challenging this individual physically. Call the police and when they arrive wait for one to turn their back. Then dive behind a car when nobody is looking. The officer will wonder how you've disappeared and will likely think its all mysterious and very Batman 'esk.' They'll probably ever get goosebumps!
SpaTowner@reddit
*Batman-esque
DB-DanCooper@reddit
Thank you, I'm an idiot.
glytxh@reddit
You have every right to do what you want, but you're gonna have to be realistic about the outcome.
This is LOW on anybody's priority list, and frankly the risk to yourself outweighs the low potential of prosecution, which basically means nothing to these kinds of people.
Plaisteach@reddit
Just lock your car?
SupportNo9543@reddit
Car theft can be heard in a crown court, which is the pass for a citizens arrest I think, so yeah, I suppose so. Wouldn't recommend it though, unless you think you're up to it.
tmr89@reddit
You can citizens arrest for more minor crimes than car theft
Mr_Bumcrest@reddit
How are you disabling this thief? And if this person is doing the same thing every night, why don't you call the police anyway.
tmr89@reddit
Because the police won’t do anything
ttrsphil@reddit
Probably a Dalek. That’s what I’d use. Although obviously I’d have to leave it at street level because stairs.
altm2@reddit
lol. The police. In engerland. Unless you want double robbed, maybe don’t bother. But also don’t stop the robber, because the police will show up and arrest you for assault. It’s England, lie down and get robbed is the way here I’ve been told numerous times, I’m supposed to be thankful I didn’t get stabbed. That’s the saving grace of this place supposedly
thierry_ennui_@reddit
Put the Daily Mail down and go outside mate
altm2@reddit
That’ll be the daily mail that I actively despise. Go outside every day, hence my first hand experience
Mr_Bumcrest@reddit
Don't believe everything you hear on Gbeebies matey
altm2@reddit
Actually I fucking hate GB News and reform. Bunch of racist arseholes who have nothing but hate. In fact, the majority of crimes I’ve witnessed here have been white people.
LordvaderUK@reddit
Are you ok?
altm2@reddit
Not really, but at least I didn’t get mugged today but a Deliveroo driver did spit on me literally on my street. Forgot this is ask UK and not London though sorry
FinalEdit@reddit
Shush Penfold
MrPatch@reddit
Nailgun between cervical vertebrae C6/C7.
Respond-No@reddit
Out of curiosity, if this whole situation was in Texas, would it be ok to shoot the criminal?
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
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HistoryDisastrous493@reddit
Sounds like a great way to get yourself stabbed
CrossCityLine@reddit
OP has chosen a serious replies only flair. Please answer the question.
HappyStufff@reddit
'I'm sitting on him ... Is that legal ?'
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
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R3NEGXDE@reddit
Michell and Webb?
Matterbox@reddit
Wrap the car in cling film. Really quickly.
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
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Respond-No@reddit
Is op Mr. Bean?
Embarrassed_Ad1722@reddit
Even better... That squeaky aluminium foil that makes a hell of a racket.
-info-sec-@reddit
Put some cling film around your handle, then cover is dog poop on the inside . That'll get them! Just remember to wear gloves and take it off
Competitive_Test6697@reddit
I will disable him.
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
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Silver-Advance5276@reddit
Is you Charles Bronson ?
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
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kjus13@reddit
Is you an enemy of grammar?
Silver-Advance5276@reddit
Bet you're fun at a party.
OldBorktonian@reddit
They find unlocked cars. In a city. Who doesn't lock their car?
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
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luffyuk@reddit
When I was a student my mates and I got stupidly drunk and had a "genius" idea. We decided to start trying car doors on our street in the early hours of the morning. When we found one unlocked, one of us got in the driver's seat while the others pushed it to a new location on the street.
We swapped 3 cars around that night. So yes, people leave their cars unlocked.
Namaste_Life@reddit
I don't really believe your story.
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
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MJ-Franklin@reddit
You will most likely be the one that ends up getting arrested.
Madog-Hellgeese@reddit
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
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jjgill27@reddit
Who the hell leaves their car doors open?
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
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yuelaiyuehao@reddit
If you're a big guy and a bit scrappy, go for it
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
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Mikeytee1000@reddit
Yes, can you film it and upload the results? 🍿
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
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allofthelights@reddit
People on Reddit making this a much more complicated than it needs to be. “Ay stop fucking with the cars, try another street mate” will get the job done 95% of the time
LordGeni@reddit
Rig the sensor to record them and post the image everywhere on local social media.
rezonansmagnetyczny@reddit
Hide in the back with the doors unlocked and jump out shouting "surprise"
Ahleanna-D@reddit
No, no - not shouting “Surprise!”
They should say in a bit of a hushed tone, “What’re you doing?”
LordGeni@reddit
Or better - "Ahh, my number three plaything for the evening has arrived".
Or just - "Don't worry. You probably won't feel a thing".
Alarmed-Syllabub8054@reddit
Alternatively, park close to a lamppost from which an anvil is suspended, connected via an elaborate system of ropes and pulleys to the unlocked car door. On the passengers seat will be left a bag helpfully labelled "swag".
If that doesn't work, I don't know what will.
MattHatter1337@reddit
You are allowed to use reasonable force to subdue them, however it's not easy to define. A single strike to deter someone from attacking, like a push or one blow. But to, disable them, is harder. Plus they may be armed. You'd be best either trapping them in the car and calling the police. Or just getting pictures of them and reporting.
CraigL8@reddit
Wait on the back seat. Scariest mask you can buy. Scare the living daylight out of them.
takesthebiscuit@reddit
This is what the 101 number is for
Jurassicjen_uk@reddit
How about putting a note through every neighbours door to alert them to the situation so they make sure not to leave anything in their cars and park in front of cameras if they have them. Oh and let the police know.
Boboshady@reddit
Just lock your car door, and maybe post some leaflets to your neighbours telling them to do the same.
You absolutely do not want to risk your life over a pair of sunglasses and some loose change, and certainly not over anyone else's property.
Never under estimate what someone might do in the heat of the moment when trapped, especially if apprehension means a meeting with the law.
If you get any footage, just give it to the police. But really, just lock your car and don't leave anything in there, certainly not on display.
Max1357913@reddit
That sounds risky. I don’t think you’d ever be advised to do that by the police and I wouldn’t recommend either.
If you’ve got video proof of it happening, could you use that to get the police to do a stakeout of your road, waiting at night nearby on alert? Not really sure how it works.
But I wouldn’t advise apprehending them yourself
voluotuousaardvark@reddit
Unless youre a mentalist hard man- but then theres always a more mental harder man lol.
Seems like a safer bet just to lock your car tbh.
thierry_ennui_@reddit
Put a note on your car window saying 'I'M WATCHING YOU'
BOrdinary01@reddit
This is a person stealing from empty cars not endangering lives. Never put your life in danger for things. There is also the risk you could cause serious harm by using excessive force without intending to. You do not know who the thief is or who they are connected to. Use CCTV and inform the police.
Ricky Hayden: Man jailed over bodyguard stab death - BBC News
DeathGuard1978@reddit
You're not Batman, please don't try and be a hero. The contents of your car are not worth, potentially, losing your life over.
Monzonmudslinger@reddit
Walk out, approach said thief, punch bloody head, call police, go back to bed…. ~fin~
MiserableAd2744@reddit
If your car has a double locking feature (disconnects the interior handles so they don’t work) then just wait until thief is inside the car. Press the key fob to double lock the car and call the police. They will either be safely trapped in the car until the cops arrive or they will smash the glass to get out all which you might capture on your camera and you can add criminal damage to the theft charges.
bradclark2001@reddit
Stick some super glue on your car handle
reiveroftheborder@reddit
Not worth risking your own personal safety. The thief may be dangerous, unpredictable and/or under the influence of substances.
Dry_Action1734@reddit
If you don’t know when it’s happening, how do you know that’s what is happening at all…?
Alright Rambo. You have no idea of this person’s fighting experience or how desperate they are to not get caught or whether they are armed. Ridiculous idea. Also depending on their availability, you could be waiting with him for ages.
Just submit footage to police every time until they do something.
BigFloofRabbit@reddit
I did this myself with two lads who had tried to break into our basement several days prior. I spotted them outside and ran over to apprehend them.
Unfortunately they legged it and I am a fat old guy, so I couldn't catch them.
jaBroniest@reddit
A quick way to get stabbed mate
Ilikewhatyousay@reddit
Unless you are Jason Bourne, dont do this. Not worth getting yourself killed over.
Report to the police. Hassle your MP about the lack of action. Its not sexy but you also are less likely to be seriously hurt.
PolishSoundGuy@reddit
You’re only putting yourself at risk, and the police would not care about this due to underfunding and more serious offences.
“I wanted to play a vigilante“ are the unspoken words, heard all around the graveyard.
If you’re that bothered get stickers that say CCTV recording in progress, paste them on sidewalks, walls etc, it’s enough to deter someone who isn’t dead set on breaking into a specific car.
And if police want to investigate, they could plant someone incognito to observe and apprehend, nothing more to do than report to police.
Vertigo_uk123@reddit
If you want to get stabbed. Go ahead. Personally I would get clear cctv. Alert neighbours to make sure their cars are locked. They will soon move on to another area when it’s all camera’d up and they never find an unlocked car. Send footage to police but it’s unlikely they will do anything.
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