Uninvestigated crime

sir – On December 19 last year, my car was broken into and my work and personal ipads stolen. I reported the thefts online and included CCTV footage that clearly showed the two perpetrators trying various cars.

This was the second such theft; the first time, despite being called while the break-in was in progress, the police hadn’t bothered to attend.

This time, a signal was generated by my company ipad, which showed its whereabouts, so I called the police and gave them the address. I was told someone would get back to me. I asked if that meant no officer would go to the address and the operator said: “To be honest, it’s very unlikely.”

I went there myself. Some would say I was fortunate that the people in the flat wouldn’t open the door. The signal was live for 16 hours and the first call I received from the Met was two weeks later. The officer who rang blamed lack of resources. I replied that police choose to use resources for highprofile things, such as sending 8,000 officers to the Notting Hill carnival.

Police spend so much time building bridges with minority communities in the hope of a positive press that they neglect the majority, who are being robbed blind in their absence. Gareth Jones

London SE9

sir – My locked bicycle was stolen from a stand at the local railway station, which has video surveillance.

I reported this to the police. Because of the cameras, they knew the exact time and appearance of the culprit. When I asked to see this video evidence I was told that it was impossible, due to data security.

Is it surprising that we lose our respect for the police? Frank Littler

Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire