Family ignored by police after theft and hit-and-run

Feb 14 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A MOTHER and daughter who were victims of thieves and a hit-and-run driver in a car crash were ignored when they called police.

Caroline Wray, of Slaithwaite, called police on Saturday morning after discovering thieves had stolen more than £1,000 worth of slate from her kitchen roof.

Two days later her 17-year-old daughter Lily was hit by a fellow motorist and left injured by the man, who then drove off.

Both times Mrs Wray called the police, but was told by a call handler that police would not be attending.

Mrs Wray is now asking what crimes people need to be the victim of before police will attend.

The mother, of Radcliffe Road, said: “What do they do anymore if they’re not attending crimes committed against people?

“It seems wrong that they have someone who isn’t a trained police officer making these decisions.

“I was more angry that the police failed to attend than I was at having my kitchen roof stolen.”

On Saturday morning the Wray family discovered the slate had gone from their kitchen roof.

They estimate it will cost more than £1,000 to replace.

Footprints of the suspected culprits were left in the snow, along with cigarette ends.

But police said they would not attend and gave her a crime reference number.

On Sunday, Greenhead College student Lily was injured when a motorist smashed into her car.

He had a smell of alcohol and drove off without swapping insurance details with Lily.