Boss sees raiders live on webcam but police are too busy to catch them
A business mAn who called police during a breakin at his firm was left to watch it unfold live on CCTV screens at home – as officers were too busy to attend.
Paul smart, 65, dialled 999 when he saw masked thieves on camera sneaking around his office and was confident police would catch them in the act.
but officers refused to attend and he was forced watch them spend 50 minutes ransacking his offices.
mr smart was told to call the 101 non- emergency number despite the crime being in progress at his photography firm Doodah Creative in brierley Hill, West mids.
The burglars, armed with iron bars, were left to get away with £25,000 worth of hi-tech equipment during the raid, which took place at 2am on Friday last week.
Yesterday mr smart condemned police for failing to respond to the break-in, which he was left to watch in real-time ‘like an episode of Coronation street’. semi-retired mr smart, who lives 12 miles away from his offices in Chaddesley Corbett, Worcs, said: ‘i received a call from the alarm company saying it had been triggered.
‘i got out of bed and turned the computer on and went through all of the CCTV.
‘i was horrified to see two men wearing hoodies and masks carrying iron bars. When i realised things were missing from the office, like computers, i called 999 to get through to West mercia Police.
‘i gave them the address and they said “Ah, you need to call West midlands Police on 101”.
‘i called 101 and told them the same story and could they send the police. They said they did not have the manpower to do anything.
‘They told me they were very busy and that no one was available because there had been a stabbing in the area.
‘i then watched the burglars leave, called 101, and watched them come in again. both times they said they could not come out. They gave me every excuse under the sun.
‘At one point West midlands Police told me they no longer come out to commercial properties.
mr smart said he was ‘shocked’ at his treatment, which he called ‘absolutely disgusting’. ‘ Watching the CCTV was absolutely awful. i didn’t go in myself because i’m 65, semi-retired and i live 12 miles away’, he said.
‘They say only to dial 999 when a crime is in progress, which in this case it clearly was as i was watching it unfold in front of my eyes like an episode of Coronation street.
‘When you are watching someone take your property and your hard work away like that, while not being able to do anything, it was awful. i have had a verbal apology from the police but that’s just not acceptable. This is my business and my livelihood, and to be told the crime was not important enough was like a slap in the face.’
by the time officers turned up the following morning, the crooks had long since escaped with three Apple mac computers, a macbook, keyboards, and other equipment.
The overall cost to the firm will be between £20,000 and £25,000. sales director and account manager steve Jones said: ‘We had to battle to get someone out. The police’s attitude was in many ways worse than the criminals’ attitude – that they weren’t coming out to a commercial burglary.’
insp Gill Davenport, from West midlands Police, said: ‘An investigation is under way and detectives are carrying out houseto- house inquiries, as well as looking at CCTV in the area.
‘We have been made aware that the victim is disappointed with the police response and we are discussing these issues to understand the concerns and to address them.’
‘It was like watching an episode of Corrie’