Speed Cameras

[Guest]

I recently discovered my battered old Rover 25 had been towed away from its parking space outside my flat. I say towed because it was un-driveable having been written off in a collision a couple of weeks before. After having checked with the police and the local authority who had no knowledge of its whereabouts, it soon became apparent that it had been stolen. I reported it as a crime to my local police force and a few days later they got back to me by email and told me that there was no new information and no witnesses had come forward so they were going to close the case. Tough luck for me.

I live on one of the biggest roads in Birmingham. I really am staggered that someone has come along with a pick up truck and towed my car away. This is not an opportunistic theft, somebody has taken my car to order and must have known that it was a write off. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised but I can't believe how brazen these people are.

My point is this. Along the road where I live there are speed cameras positioned every thirty or forty yards and one directly overlooks the car park from which my vehicle was stolen. Why can't the police review the footage which will show my vehicle being towed away and try and identify the people responsible? Too much trouble for them? If it has been caught on camera surely they are duty bound to investigate?

I have pointed this out to the police made a formal appeal against their decision. I would be grateful if anybody else has any thoughts on the matter or better still some constructive advice to give me.

Thanks,
Robert.

[michael]

Speed cameras do not record continuously, they are only triggered when someone breaks the speed limit

[ostell]

Speed cameras are just that. If the passing traffic is not exceeding the limit then no photo

Find a CCTV camera and ask the owner if they will help. Give them as precise a time as you can

[Sofaloafer]

This did occur to me but I always assumed that all of our major roads were under 24 hour mass surveillance these days, especially where I live because there have been numerous accidents over the years. Unfortunately my neighbours have no CCTV footage so perhaps I'm out of luck this time.

[Aged William]

If you haven't done so already, I suggest you inform your insurance company quoting the police crime/incident number.

Also, appeal the speeding ticket and request high quality digital photographic evidence of the offence. This usually comes in pairs - an overview image of the road and vehicle, and a zoomed in image of the number plate. The former may be of use in identifying any other vehicles involved.