I joined my boyfriend at his friends Christmas meal on thursday in a restaurant in East London- (a curry house with no alcohol license- I did not drink). I took my camera along to take pictures for them, but in the end another friend had a camera, so I didn't even take mine out of my hand bag. I left my bag unattended once when I went to the ladies, but it was at a table with 8 of his very close friends. We then caught a taxi, a tube, a train and a bus home. I have discovered today that my camera is gone. There is no doubt that it has been stolen, but where from I have no idea. I have checked my insurance details and I am covered for personal items. I need to tell the police to get a crime reference number, but I don't know whether to just pin point the theft to either the restaurant ( who say they don't have it) or on the train say. If I'm too vague, they may just say I lost it and not give me the number. I don't want the insurance company to wriggle out of this. Any ideas what to do?
2006-12-16 06:49:06 · 18 answers · asked by DS12221 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
This is a theft, especially if the camera was in your bag. Someone reached in and took it out, you did not lose it. I would call the police for your incident number. Tell the police you aren't sure when it disappeared and that several people (including those on train,bus and tube) had opportunities to take it. Tell them you spoke to the people at the restaurant and they are denying knowledge of it. I can't image you will have any problems with the police based on what you've told us.
2006-12-16 10:52:44 · answer #1 · answered by joeanonymous 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Report the theft online if you don't want to feel intimidated or fobbed off.
It's also a lot quicker, as coming up to Christmas there are so any thefts in London.
Go to www.met.police.uk then follow the link to the left of the page to report a crime. You will still get a crime reference, but you can take your time about reporting the crime.
Don't worry about not knowing where the theft happened, the fact of the matter is, your camera was stolen and it was stolen within the metropolitan police district.
Try contacting the restaurant to see if they have CCTV and ask if anyone else reported a theft there that evening during the time you were there. This could help narrow things down.
2006-12-16 07:34:22 · answer #2 · answered by THE BULB 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From what you have said there is no knowing when it went, it may have been stolen it may have spilled out of your bag getting onto the bus or out of the taxi. Whatever, you have paid your insurance premium and you want to claim for this article which has gone. Read through your insurance policy details and you will find the answer to your dilemma I am pretty sure. The only caveat I can see is whether your excess will make it worth your while claiming - depends how valuable camera is and whether they replace new for old or just value at time of loss. Sorry anyway.
2006-12-16 06:59:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go into your local station and tell them the truth. That you put your camera into your handbag at xx time - you did not take it out - when you got home it was gone. That it was stolen by a person or persons unknown. They will give you a crime reference number and transfer it to Brick Lane or wherever you had your curry. Personally I would advise you to check your car and where you might have left it at home. Usually thieves do not take something from a handbag, they take the bag as well.........
Are you sure your insurance does not cover you for losing it..... in which case ask for a lost report reference number...........
2006-12-16 06:58:07 · answer #4 · answered by thomasrobinsonantonio 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Firstly ...Sorry for the theft of your camera.
Secondly ...Tell the truth , Do not lie to the Police.
This I say for many different reasons.If your camera is "recovered" and you have said its been taken from somewhere else .......
and if you say its been lost on the train British Transport Police deal with that and not your local police.
good luck
Tell them the truth which is you had it when you went out and it was in a zipped handbag , when you got home you discovered it had been stolen.
they will give you a crime ref number for the insurance company.
2006-12-16 06:56:16 · answer #5 · answered by Byte 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unless you can 100% say where you had your camera stolen you wont get a crime number, you can report it lost and get a reference number which should be ok for the insurance company
2006-12-17 08:49:02 · answer #6 · answered by rick_wenham 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
does youur insurance cover "lost" items? If so it shouldn't matter.
If not:
If it was in your bag, without question, between certain time frame, then it was stolen.
I think it would be crazy to tell you (if I were the insurance company) that you have to know exactly when and where it was stolen. I woud just tell them it was in the bag between these hours, and sometime it was stolen out of the bag. You noticed it missing at x time.
2006-12-16 06:55:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your insurers will only want proof that you have reported to the police, the theft of your camera. The police are obliged to give you a crime number for your insurers. as proof that it was stolen .
2006-12-16 10:08:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can't say that you lost it because you know you left it in your bag. You know it was stolen from there. You just don't know where *you* were at the time it was stolen. The insurance company is still responsible and should help you, as far as I know.
Don't pinpoint the theft anywhere if you can't honestly do so.
2006-12-16 07:06:05 · answer #9 · answered by Steve 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have insurance away from home there should not be a problem. Contact the Police and tell the truth. Then contact your insurance company. Good luck
2006-12-16 06:53:53 · answer #10 · answered by Scotty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋