We were robbed of christmas presents by our foster child ?

Question

We only found out after we dropped her off at her mums for xmas as we were putting them out from under the tree on xmas eve. We then found £230 missing from my mothers grave renovation fund, and to top that on thursday last we found she had stolen our grandsons birthday present. Obviously she refused to return back to us and we informed the police about the thefts. We were told on thursday night an officer would be with us on friday afternoon, when no one showed we put it down to them being busy. Yesterday the police rang to tell us they would pay a visit sunday at 10am. It is now 6pm. Is this normal practice for the police or are the crimes not deemed important enough? Im genuinly concerned.

Answer 1

Police are open and take calls 24 hours a day seven days a week. For them to put you off like this sounds like someone isn't doing their job. You can call and ask for the Shift Commanding Officer or wait until Monday and go in and speak with the Chief. Something should have been done by now, meaning MORE than what they have done, which sounds like nothing. But you are doing the right hting by making or at the very least attempting to make a report. I wouldn't let the kid back into my home for sure.

Answer 2

Your case is not hard just usually the kind that takes a lot of work to get ready for a prosecution just to have the victims back out. This happens because there will be some time period while the officers try to investigate and many times during this period the family members calm down and reconcile leaving the officer with wasted time. I am trying to be honest and tell you why this might be happening. You can always go in and speak to a police supervisor, or you could file your own charges at the local magistrates. When the police do it they are doing so on your behalf anyway, it would be the same charges. If possible try to speak to the other adults where she is now to see if you can resolve anything. I hope that helps, good luck.

Answer 3

A 15 year old child is the same as any other child at that age regardless of whether or not they are in foster care. Why not ask him what he is interested in ? If you can't get an answer then why not try a gift certificate to a gaming or department store? There he could browse in different departments and select what he wants.

Answer 4

When I was in foster care I was accused of doing things I did not do because I was "an outsider" to the family. I was punished for stealing food and reporting information to the Department of Human Services about the family and several other things that I no longer recall the particulars of. When the family found out I did not do those things, they did not apologize and they did not do anything to make right the fact that I had been punished for no reason. Of these two cases, the real culprit in one was my foster mother's adult daughter who lived in the house and in the other the real culprit was a concerned co-worker of her other adult daughter who lived in the house and had written some hateful things about foster children on the company's computer. I have heard similar stories from other foster youth who I have met of being falsely accused and punished for something they did not do. Please be sure that this young woman really is the culprit before you procede any further. Perhaps she did these things or perhaps it was someone else who has access to your home.

Answer 5

this sounds very normal police action to me, A family member was sexually assaulted and the police blamed her along with a lot of other nasty things. My sister went missing it was an inconvenience for them, an ambulance couldn't help a family member because the police were needed and took 2-3 hours to show. I've dialled 999 before, our flat was being attacked and my 1 year old was asleep in the back room, other than us it was only old people in a couple of other flats. Did the police ever show... no. I really hate the police they do nothing.

Answer 6

i am wondering if its just being viewed as low priority i am not gonna start insulting the police they prob have alot on. They may think it cant be recovered as yet and there could be other things more pressing. Over the festive period they could have had reduced staff levels in these areas, and are taking time to catch up.Anyway as a social worker dont let it put you off further fostering. But as a mother, god it must get to you if your own kids lost out. x

Answer 7

This is so sad, a caring family helping out over Christmas and getting robbed by a selfish little cow like that. Is she still in your foster care? Did you have her just over Christmas or did you just take her back to her Mum for Xmas? If she comes back just take some of her stuff, break it, lose it, anything. I would be tempted to go to her Mum's and take something of value, I know she didn't take it but tough. Really I would like to give her a good slap but I know you can't do that....she WILL get her comuppence though...it's very bad luck to rob from the dead.

Answer 8

It's a classic case of under manning and under funding of our police force.
If you have an issue with how your case is being treated (or not, in your case) you have the right to make a formal complaint. I hope that the link below is of some use

http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/index/contact-us.htm

I must say how sorry I am, you sound like good poeple who only want to do some good but are used and ablused by those that you are trying to help.

Good Luck I hope that everthing works out for you in the end.

Answer 9

Tell the police it was a hate crime, whatever that means, and they will drop everything to attend.

Answer 10

Where are you out of? I work in law enforcement and that would never happen with us. You should call and ask to speak to someone in charge or go straight to the station itself!