Perth police & what to expect?
Has anyone had their car broken into and can tell me what the normal police process is?
A few weeks ago my car was broken into. The front passenger window was smashed and the offender spent over an hour going back and forth taking my belongings. I lost so much. The value is insane, but more than that I lost so many sentimental things. I had most of my belongings in my car.
Neighbours had CCTV of him at my car for over an hour, walking back and forth carrying my things away. The footage isn’t clear enough to identify his face, but you can see him and my suitcases, bags, tubs and belongings being taken. He also left a pair of gloves inside my car and a handprint.
I originally called my local police station because I thought that’s who you’re meant to call. The officer I spoke to was rude and unhelpful and told me to call Crime Stoppers instead. The lady there was much nicer and took all the details over the phone.
What I’m confused about is what is actually supposed to happen after you report something like this? Or what happened in anyone else’s similar situation? Are police supposed to come out and look for fingerprints or DNA if gloves are left behind? Or even just because the window was smashed and the car was damaged? Mine wasn’t the only vehicle targeted that night either. Another nearby vehicle had a large amount of tools stolen.
Do police normally collect CCTV from nearby houses, or is that left to the victim? I was told I could ask around for footage if I wanted to, so I ended up door knocking and doing a letterbox drop myself trying to find anything that might help. I don’t expect to ever get my belongings back, but I search Marketplace every day hoping something pops up.
Then about two weeks later, I saw a man hiding in the bushes near my car. I went over and spoke to him and he claimed to be homeless, so I grabbed him some clothes and food. Even though I didn’t really believe his story, I wanted to help anyway.
He then came back saying it was all a “social experiment”, handed the clothes back and was absolutely off his chops. The exact moment police arrived he sped off. I watched him drive across the road to a house, run inside and disappear. The whole thing was caught on video, from him claiming to be homeless in the bushes, to coming to my house saying I’d “won money” because it was a social experiment, then speeding off when police arrived.
While police were there, I asked again if the gloves and handprint left in my car could still be checked, as nobody had ever come to look at them. I even asked if the bag of clothes he handed back could be checked to see if anything matched. The response I got was basically, “Has anyone else ever been in your car before?” and “Well… it’s been parked outside.”
I also recently logged into the police report and noticed almost none of the stolen items I’d reported over the phone were listed. I think there were only about four items, and a lot of what I reported wasn’t on there. Pretty much everything I owned was in my boot. I’m wondering if that affects anything or if that’s normal?
Everyone I’ve spoken to has said police usually come out, collect evidence and do fingerprints, but I have no idea what’s actually standard.
Did police examine your car for fingerprints or DNA?
Did they collect CCTV themselves?
Did they keep you updated?
Did anyone actually get their belongings back or have the offender identified?
I’m genuinely curious because at this point I feel like I’ve done more investigating than anyone else. Between collecting CCTV, door knocking, making flyers, searching Marketplace and following up myself, I honestly don’t know if this is just how these things go or if something should’ve happened that didn’t.
And yes, I already know… “Don’t leave your belongings in your car.” Trust me, if I’d had another option, I would’ve taken it. Being between houses wasn’t exactly part of the plan.
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through something similar.