Avon & Somerset police urge anyone seeing bike being stolen to call 999 (+ 3 videos)

So basically what the police have done there is advertise to all potential theives that if they want to steal a bike in a busy street in broad daylight then they should have a go, as they'll probably get away with it because nobody will bother stopping them or reporting it.

Bravo whoever thought of putting that front and centre on BBC news

Stumps, I really do appreciate what you guys have to deal with. It's just frustrating when you are watching a car being tanned and the radio etc being pocketed and the control room telling you to call the local station.

If you see a bike being stolen, it's a crime in progress, so don't feel hesitant about calling 999.

A report of someone committing a theft, even if it's just a Raleigh Shopper, will never be classed as "wasting police time", and the 999 operator will be able to transfer you to a non-emergency operators if they think it's appropriate.

101 is more for reporting suspicious behaviour or when crimes have already happened.

From speaking to the police here in Bristol it seems there are times when they definitely have their hands full (e.g. Friday and Saturday night) but equally there are times when they'll have a few cars out patrolling and will be able to get there very quickly. Either way, if no-one reports it, they won't be able to do anything about it.

Anyone thought of googling their local police number while sitting on the internet (your here if your reading this!). Stick it in your phone, let them know whats going on if you spot anything. I know a lot of you think they wont do anything, but thats because resources have been cut, if people start actually reporting crimes then more resource will have to be committed in the future.

Here we go an=gain, it's all the Police fault blah blah blah.

On average we get over 2000 calls a day and with less than 300 cops on duty at any one time and some jobs taking a full day to deal with we cant get to every job within 5 mins.

I wish people would understand that before gobbing off.

ye right!! when i had my bike nicked 2 years ago the concierge to my office dialed 999, but the 'Pleb' at the time answered by saying 'er not really an emergency, and the park is a big place' - 'Pleb' was aptly used at the time, then it took the police 10 days to call on me to file a report. PLEBS!! it still hurts today, i put that baby together.

Round our way some of the thieves are likely either to be in gangs or to be junkies looking to get their next fix. The gang kids operate in packs and confronting them isn't advisable as at least one will be carrying a knife and the crime statistics suggest they won't hold back from using a blade. The junkies may be physically weaker as a rule but may be carrying a dirty set of works. There have been cases of people being stabbed with one of these and then having a very anxious six months while they wait to see if they're HIV positive, although to be honest the biggest risk would be from Hepatitis B or C. I'm not sure I agree that people not wanting to get involved is a sad refection of society these days as I remember the bad old days of the 1970s being generally somewhat rougher than the present.

Best thing to do if you see a bike being nicked is to call the cops, maybe make sure you can identify the thieves and possibly even take a pic if you can without being seen. But no, in most cases I wouldn't intervene and I'd leave that to the police.

The last one was quite amusing, the stupid woman just watches what he does, amazing!

pfft, bollocks. I've done this several times only to be visited two or three days later by the police for a statement. 'Too late now mate, they've gone.'

The police need to convince that they will show up then and there.

The new Non-Emergency number should help overcome some of the hesitations i certainly feel in reporting minor stuff to the "Emergency services"...trouble is i cant remember what the number is , even now !

As jason says, many people do not want to get involved which is a sad reflection of society now days. You will still have people who will step in. Often it just takes a shout or draw attention to what the theif is up to. On the flip side, I've been reprimanded by the emergency control room when informing of a crime being committed and my witnessing it and told I should call the station directly.

Not surprised, I broke the key off in my lock on my bike one time by mistake outside of my work on a summers day.
Proceeded to go inside grab a hacksaw from our maintenance man's toolbox and actually hacksaw the lock off in broad daylight during lunchtime, lots of people walked past saw me doing it and not one person said a thing.

The attitude of a greater of the majority (not all) of society today to ignore these sorts of things happening to avoid confrontation or become involved is a small part of the reason why we have many problems in our communities.