Reply to: Gobsmacked

[ASB]

Credit card fraud and theft of around £500, a minor offence?

In the grand scheme of things not important - unfortunately

I'm surprised you even managed to get a report accepted.

A few months ago somebody ordered a couple of grands worth of stuff on a card of mine. I had the delivery address it was to go to. A mobile number (presumably PAYG).

I was able to stop the delivery etc because the bill was posted to me before the stuff was delivered. After numerous discussions with the law they politely told me to **** off because no crime had been committed.

Apparently since the bank were going to reimburse me and do a chargeback to the merchant who hadn't shipped the stuff nobody was out of pocket. The only people they would accept a report from were the bank. As victim of a failed theft apparently there was no crime against me.

Small wonder card fraud is a 500 mln a year growth industry.

[gadgetman]

So why did they even bother pursuing it?

My wife had to arrange CCTV from her workplace and made numerous calls and visits to the police station to give statements and identify the woman from various CCTV tapes (where the cards were used).

Not to mention the cost of the police investigation (although it seems my wife had to do most of the work).

Why did they even bother if they knew they'd do (almost) nothing about it?

The police are not bothering to take this further because they know the CPS is highly likely to chuck the case out.

[Churchill]

Not sure if she's gonna get a criminal record, as she's only just been cautioned (not tried and convicted). Shameful really, but even more shameful is some of the attitudes here towards the crime (it's only £ 500, so what?)
Zero tolerance is the way to deal with crime, small soon becomes big if not detected or dealt with!

Can she not work off the debt?

[Dow Jones]

Romanian?

Not sure if she's gonna get a criminal record, as she's only just been cautioned (not tried and convicted). Shameful really, but even more shameful is some of the attitudes here towards the crime (it's only £ 500, so what?)
Zero tolerance is the way to deal with crime, small soon becomes big if not detected or dealt with!

[SueEllen]

A postscript on this.

We appealed against the decision and just had a call from the police to confirm they will not be taking it any further. Oh and because she's on benefits she gets to keep the money. They also felt a bit sorry for her because she's just had a baby! (where's the smiley for banging your head against a brick wall when you need it?).

If anything like this happened again I wouldn't even bother calling the police - what's the point?

Apparently it takes at least six offences before she'd get a custodial sentence.

My kids cannot believe any of this - what a great message for them and their friends. We truly are the soft touch of Europe (the world?) :

The police are not bothering to take this further because they know the CPS is highly likely to chuck the case out.

[Churchill]

A postscript on this.

We appealed against the decision and just had a call from the police to confirm they will not be taking it any further. Oh and because she's on benefits she gets to keep the money. They also felt a bit sorry for her because she's just had a baby! (where's the smiley for banging your head against a brick wall when you need it?).

If anything like this happened again I wouldn't even bother calling the police - what's the point?

Apparently it takes at least six offences before she'd get a custodial sentence.

My kids cannot believe any of this - what a great message for them and their friends. We truly are the soft touch of Europe (the world?) :

Here's a few simple words of advice...

"Go To The Press With This Story"...

[Diver]

What did you expect them to do? Pay for a prison cell for the woman, and care for the new child?

Bring back transportation I say. Perhaps to Iraq?

Should have shoved the kid back where it came from and put the boot up her @rse, and told her to go have the kid in the gutter where she belongs.

[gadgetman]

A postscript on this.

We appealed against the decision and just had a call from the police to confirm they will not be taking it any further. Oh and because she's on benefits she gets to keep the money. They also felt a bit sorry for her because she's just had a baby! (where's the smiley for banging your head against a brick wall when you need it?).

If anything like this happened again I wouldn't even bother calling the police - what's the point?

Apparently it takes at least six offences before she'd get a custodial sentence.

My kids cannot believe any of this - what a great message for them and their friends. We truly are the soft touch of Europe (the world?) :

[PAH]

Tough on crime and the causes of crime

What they meant to say was "Crime? Tough.", but the marketing agency wanted another million in compensation as they normally charge by the letter.

[Ardesco]

Anyone who believes that a woman in labour who steals credit cards from the midwife helping is committing their FIRST offence is seriously STOOPID!!!

Bound to be a total low-life career petty criminal. Should have been locked up and the kid adopted as she clearly isn't going to be a fit mother.

WHS

Tough on crime and the causes of crime my arse. If she is a foreign immigrant fecking kick her back to wherever she came from. We have enough of our own thieves and scum without welcoming more in open armed.

[WotNxt]

Anyone who believes that a woman in labour who steals credit cards from the midwife helping is committing their FIRST offence is seriously STOOPID!!!

Bound to be a total low-life career petty criminal. Should have been locked up and the kid adopted as she clearly isn't going to be a fit mother.

[bobhope]

£500.....hardly Brinksmat proportions is it. Less than a days pay for many of us. Cost of the justice far exceeds the crime. You will get the cash back from the bank so you're covered. Woman made a mistake and now has a record. If she tries it again, punishment will be more severe.

Are you Snaw? He comes up with stuff like this.

I remember when my wife gave birth in London, the radio was screwed down because it had been nicked so many times.

[Moscow Mule]

Utter b0llocks.

You're only saying that because it affects you directly.

[gadgetman]

Utter b0llocks.

Cost of the justice far exceeds the crime.

[Moscow Mule]

... emotional damage done by petty theft ....

They offer you councelling for that now. I lost my phone on a night out (light fingered bar staff I think) and was offered some as a "victim of crime".

Victim of drunken stupidity and lack of awareness more like.