Can They Claim Back Their Council Tax Precept?

A couple whose Jaguar was stolen were forced to steal it back after police took too long to investigate. Mia Forbes Pirie and Mark Simpson discovered their car had gone missing from near their west London home in Brook Green on Wednesday morning. The pair had it fitted with an AirTag locator meaning they were able to track the vehicle to an updated location in Chiswick at 10.30am.

So, an open and shut case, one even today's modern coppers couldn't possibly screw up? 

But police informed them after dialling 999 that they did not know when they would be able to investigate and so could not offer immediate assistance.

What 'investigation' really needed doing? It was handed to you on a plate! 

The couple took matters into their own hands when Ms Pirie, 48, discovered the AirTag had last pinged on the road outside their home at around 3.20am.Mr Simpson, 62, was nervous as he made the four-mile journey with his wife to the car's new location. The pair discovered the vehicle on a quiet back street with its interior and carpets ripped apart by thieves who had attempted to access its wiring.

In a post to LinkedIn, Ms Forbes Pirie admitted it was 'kind of fun' stealing back the car but questioned 'why we should have had to do that'.

You shouldn't. You have done everything the police tell you to do to safeguard your property, after all. Now it's their turn to hold up their end of the bargain.

She added: '[Is] it right that the police seem to have no interest in investigating what is likely to have been a reasonably sophisticated operation involving a flat bed truck… if there are no consequences, what is the incentive for people not to do more of this?'

None, which no doubt helps the Met to demand more from the Treasury to 'stem the crime wave' that's ever present in London. due to things like this. 

Last year, the Met Police allegedly told a Londoner who had his car stolen to recover the vehicle himself as they didn't have the manpower. George Nicolas had his Maserati Levante stolen from outside his home in May after the thieves removed his steering lock with an angle grinder. Luckily the classic car fan had installed a tracking device in the car - which costs more than £93,000 when new - and he rang up the Met to inform them of the motor's location. But Mr Nicolas claimed he was subsequently told that the force 'didn't have anyone available' and instead recommended that he recover the vehicle himself since he knew where it was.

Perhaps if he'd phoned them again when he got to the car and threatened to shoot the thieves they'd have sufdenly found some manpower after all?