A Wellington woman has spoken out after her car was stolen from outside her home - but says the police closed the investigation into the crime the same day she reported it.
Lou Ryan told the Somerset County Gazette that her Ford Ranger Wildtrak, silver, registration YM70 LFU, was stolen from Mitchell Street in Wellington overnight on Wednesday 22 July.
She said the theft has had a huge impact on her as a single mum and a small business owner, as she used the vehicle to run her flooring businesses from, but has been less frustrated by the police response.
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"I feel unsafe"
Lou said she didn't receive a response from police after reporting the incident, and when she chased up was told the theft was not being investigated due to a lack of evidence.
It is understood that the case was 'filed', meaning there's no active investigation but any further information received by the police will be reviewed.
Meanwhile, Lou took it upon herself to knock on neighbours doors and attempt to gather CCTV footage in the hopes of recovering the car.
She said: "I’m a single mum. I’ve been left doing the investigating myself, knocking on doors for doorbell footage, contacting Ford, dealing with fraudsters, while being told it isn’t proportionate for anyone else to look.
"I feel unsafe, and I’m at a loss as to where help is supposed to come from."
Theft victim says criminals "know nothing will be done"
After the ordeal of the theft, Lou was then targeted by criminals again - this time, a fraudulent recovery company using social media to identify and target victims of theft contacted Lou asking for money.
She explained: "That scam exists precisely because it knows theft victims are desperate and getting nothing from anywhere else.
"I’ve reported it. I do understand cuts have been made. But at what cost?
"Beyond how frightening and unsettling the whole thing is, to then find that nobody is actually looking into it leaves you with nothing to hold on to.
"And I think that’s exactly why this sort of crime keeps rising. They know nothing will be done."
According to data from the Home Office, 3,167 vehicles were reported stolen in the Avon and Somerset Police force area last year.
Of those cases, only around 2.4 per cent resulted in a charge, with a significant number remaining unsolved.
Details of stolen vehicles like Lou's are recorded on the Police National Computer, meaning ANPR checks across the country would later identify the vehicle if spotted.
Police blame "a lack of viable lines of enquiry"
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "On Thursday 23 July we received a call from a member of the public who said their truck had been stolen in Wellington.
"They informed us the vehicle was stolen in Mitchell Street at some point between 9 pm on Wednesday 22 July and 8 am the following morning.
"The investigation has been filed due a lack of viable lines of enquiry.
"Any new information that is received around this crime will be reviewed and appropriate investigative enquiries undertaken.
"We can confirm the victim has made a formal complaint, which is in the process of being reviewed.
"Anyone who witnessed the offence or has information or footage that could assist our enquiries is asked to contact us via our website or on 101 quoting reference number 5226205775."
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