Forum Topic

Guy on bike looking in cars and vans

I was walking up Highlands Avenue and in front of me was a black guy on a bike. He didn't realise I was there at first and stopped and looked into the windows of a van and car. Once he saw me he cycled off.He was riding a smart black bike, wearing a black jacket and a black baseball cap with Nike written in red.Just wanted to warn people in the area.

Amanda Knights ● 4810d8 Comments

Did you call the police?

Tom Forde ● 4810d

Thanks for this. I live just round the corner. We will keep a look out.

Maire Lowe ● 4809d

I have reported it to the Safer Neighbourhood Team. Calling the Police would not have been very useful as he had not actually done anything wrong at that point, and had cycled off.

Amanda Knights ● 4809d

The best thing is always to call 999 with a full description, if a car is nearby and free, then they will swing by.

Tom Forde ● 4809d

Tom,Yes that is great in theory, but in practice it is not as simple as that. The police only want 999 calls for real emergencies - the guy at that point had not committed any crime. Also someone on a bike can go many places a police car can't and the chances of finding him in the locality by the time they arrived would have been quite small. I do not want to 'waste police time' when they are already stretched to the limit. They have been made aware of the incident, which whilst suspicious was not actually a crime!

Amanda Knights ● 4809d

Hi Amanda, I had exactly the same thing recently with a guy looking in the front gardens ( I posted on here about it). I called the non emergency number, and they said it was the right thing to do. Interestingly when I spoke to Sargent Cook at the SNT about this, he said, just call 999 as this is exactly the sort of thing they want to know about.I do appreciate your reluctance in calling - I was the same, but it's the right thing to do.Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4809d

Thanks for that Carl - nice to get a police view on it! I will know next time to ring 999 - but I am sure he would have been well away by then as once he saw me he cycled off. Amanda

Amanda Knights ● 4809d

"  I do not want to 'waste police time' when they are already stretched to the limit.  "As I was walking along Acton High Street last week I heard police car sirens in the distance. The sound grew louder and louder, and then, two police cars zoomed past at high speed, traveling in opposite directions. Obviously, I don't know the full nature of the emergency, but it doesn't look like the most efficient use of police resources.

Fred Bray ● 4809d