SWT Phone Thief goes Viral!

[Urban Gateline]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2099249/Thief-steals-phone-girls-bag--poses-good-Samaritan-passenger-FILMING-him.html

A commuter, Matt Parker, filmed this scumbag who allegedly took an iPhone out of a woman's bag. The woman had unfortunately left the bag behind as she left the train, it is believed that she was intoxicated at the time.

This took place on the 00:09 Waterloo - Guildford service on Feb 2nd 2012.

Our favorite newspaper now has this story on it's homepage so hopefuly someone will come forward and give his details to the BTP!

 

[GNER 91128]

I'm just wondering why the man filming didn't use his phone to, you know call the police instead of just filming.

 

[asylumxl]

I'd imagine a video showing the crime makes good proof tbh.

 

[GNER 91128]

I'd imagine a video showing the crime makes good proof tbh.

Very true, it's great proof! But if he'd rang the police after filming for say a minute the thief could have potentially been met off the train. That was all I was trying to say.

 

[GB]

I'd say in a court of law the video probably doesn't prove very much.

 

[Urban Gateline]

Very true, it's great proof! But if he'd rang the police after filming for say a minute the thief could have potentially been met off the train. That was all I was trying to say.

That only works in a perfect world though doesn't it, I somehow can't see the police rushing to leafy Weybridge to apprehend this guy, he didn't stay on the train for long so I doubt the Police would have got there on time!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'd say in a court of law the video probably doesn't prove very much.

Exactly, It doesn't show him actually taking the phone out of the womans bag. Maybe SWT CCTV would be more fruitful!

 

[ralphchadkirk]

As far as I can see the picture shows a man with an iPhone. No theft or anything...

 

[yorkie]

I'm just wondering why the man filming didn't use his phone to, you know call the police instead of just filming.

"Hi, someone is stealing a phone, he is on a train heading towards Guildford via Weybridge but I have no idea where he is getting off..." they are not going to send police cars to each station on the route, are they?

Filming him was more effective as there is now a lot more chance of catching him.

He could potentially be done for a string of offences, including being intoxicated on the railway, cycling on a platform, cycling while drunk, in addition to theft. I hope they throw the lot at him but we have to be realistic and accept this is the UK so he will be let off. He'll be unemployable due to the video which is a bonus, but we'll all still have to pay his benefits.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

As far as I can see the picture shows a man with an iPhone. No theft or anything...

I'm guessing you don't have audio on your computer? If he had not stolen the phone then he would have certainly not said the things he said to justify theft.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I'm guessing you don't have audio on your computer? If he had not stolen the phone then he would have certainly not said the things he said to justify theft.

I was looking at the picture - haven't watched the video yet.

 

[yorkie]

He was justifying it by saying that when he lost his phone he never got it back. He said the driver wouldn't stop the train and wouldn't be able to do anything. He is clearly drunk and I can't make out everything he is saying. He does not deny stealing the phone until the very end when he gets off the train, gets on his bike and cycles along the platform. Everything he says while he is on the train is consistent with admitting to the theft by justifying it.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

He was justifying it by saying that when he lost his phone he never got it back. He said the driver wouldn't stop the train and wouldn't be able to do anything. He is clearly drunk and I can't make out everything he is saying. He does not deny stealing the phone until the very end when he gets off the train, gets on his bike and cycles along the platform. Everything he says while he is on the train is consistent with admitting to the theft by justifying it.

I doubt the video will do anything in his favour then! It'll still only be supporting evidence though - they will still have to prove the phone was stolen (pretty easy though).

 

[Gathursty]

Interesting video. Kudos to the man for filming it but I think the guy filming and shouting could have handled the situation better by just saying 'I've clocked you stealing it and am filming you. Are you going to return it?' and leaving it at that as just shouting at someone won't really have any effect in that situation.

Still, the good thing to know is that the thief is named and shamed! And cycling on a platform *tut tut tut*...

 

[deltic1989]

Insted of yelling which in this case got him nowhere our camera man could perfectly legally have taken the phone from the thief using reasonable force, and using his own video in his defence if he was susiquently taken to court for assault.

See here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1967/58/section/3

Section 3 subsection 1 Criminal Law Act 1967.

The cameraman's actions have made catching this guy a little more likely but not much.
But one thing that bugged me about this was that near the end of the video the cameraman jumps off the train yelling at the guard that the guy on the bike had stolen someones phone yet he did nothing, it would have been reasonable force to grab the guys arm as he rode along the platform (see above), a video like this show that some people are unaware of thier rights under the law, or are too afraid to use them for fear criminal charges.

 

[rdwarr]

Fifteen minutes of fame more important than doing the right thing?

 

[185]

In this day and age, taking a photo or video, especially one of that quality, is far more important that calling the police, who probably won't even turn out for an incident of that nature, and if they did, would take some time. Just a personal safety issue for the one holding the camera.

 

[tsr]

In this day and age, taking a photo or video, especially one of that quality, is far more important that calling the police, who probably won't even turn out for an incident of that nature, and if they did, would take some time. Just a personal safety issue for the one holding the camera.

Yes, indeed. If the train's onboard CCTV quality could be relied on more (I am assuming that it would not be particularly high quality in this case, but correct me if I'm wrong), it would be wiser to call the police. Despite what you say, if a phone worth several hundred pounds is actually in the process of being stolen, it might well be worth police attending. I have seen for myself that Surrey Police are quite good at responding to things like this.

 

[asylumxl]

Fifteen minutes of fame more important than doing the right thing?

Fifteen minutes of fame and millions of people have now seen the thief.

It's only a matter of time before this man is seen by someone and caught by the police.

 

[jon0844]

Unless he turns himself in, I doubt the police will do much to be honest. They'll give a crime reference number for insurance to the victim and leave it at that.

 

[Matt Taylor]

Yes, indeed. If the train's onboard CCTV quality could be relied on more (I am assuming that it would not be particularly high quality in this case, but correct me if I'm wrong).

Fortunately you are mistaken, the CCTV on the 455s is high quality stuff and has resulted in plenty of convictions since it was introduced in 2006-2008.

 

[455driver]

Insted of yelling which in this case got him nowhere our camera man could perfectly legally have taken the phone from the thief using reasonable force, and using his own video in his defence if he was susiquently taken to court for assault.

Bearing in mind what happened to the "big man" in Scotland, do you honestly think that a MoP will intervene in situations like this?

Would you?

What would happen if the thief smacked you in the mouth, I am sure he would have no hesitation in doing so if you tried to stop him.

 

[michael769]

What would happen if the thief smacked you in the mouth, I am sure he would have no hesitation in doing so if you tried to stop him.

Assuming he did not have a knife on him....

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

What would happen if the thief smacked you in the mouth, I am sure he would have no hesitation in doing so if you tried to stop him.

Many people will not intervene for fear of being attacked by the person they might have approached to prevent an offence being committed.