Adding insult to injury

[artme]

A couple of months ago our son had his laptop, glasses and both passports stolen when
his flat was broken into. This was on the Gold coast, that wonderful haven for criminals.

The police were not at first very helpful, according to our son. It was only small beer,
we have a lot on our plates etc., etc..

Not to be deterred, our son did o lot of leg work and supplied the police with video
surveillance evidence and names of suspects. Still little apparent action from the police.

Another set of problems: the suspects lived in a different police district to that in which the
crime was committed and this would add to the time taken to get statements etc., etc.

He had three 7 000 word university assignments on the comter ready to submit. Because of
the theft he eventually had to withdraw from the course. Another year down the drain.

Yesterday he rang to say that the gear had been recovered and the thief was in custody but
no sign of the passports.

Now he has to pay $150 to get a report from the police to say the passports were stolen and
have not been recovered!!!

What the hell is going on!! The victim has to pay for the loss caused by this thieving scoundrel!!!???

[Wongo]

That sounds crazy. It is stolen so what more do they need to know? Would have been easier to say it is lost. Then again you might need a JP to prove it.

[rustynail]

An incident number should be sufficient.

[jimbur]

An incident number should be sufficient.

Agreed. I thought it was always done for insurance purposes. But then I could be out of date as well as out of state.

[rustynail]

Since when did money start changing hands for a police report?
Does the amount determine the content?

[AlexS]

This is the sort of situation where you need to remember that you don't keep a dog and do your own barking. You're unlikely to get the police to change their mind, but if you scream loud enough in your local politician's ear + the police minister's, and also emphasise the police's reluctance to do anything, how you had to do most of their work for them and hint that you might go to his local rag if things aren't sorted, they may do the barking for you.

[Tonyz]

a few words to your local member of govmint might help ... after all they need all the publicity they can get .

[Bob38S]

Since when did money start changing hands for a police report?
Does the amount determine the content?

The claim is that they are providing you with a service and that you need to pay for that service ---
Now let's just hang on a minute, We pay taxes to employ the bureaucracy to work for our benefit - now we are expected to pay twice. I could go on but you get the picture.....

I have been doing Meals on Wheels every Wednesday since I retired in 2005 - last month we were told we had to undergo police checks as to our background etc. Blue cards, firearm licences, exempted employment or any other form of background checked ID was not acceptable - everyone had to be checked.

In June the price of the check was $49.00 - July 01 the price is now $51.00.

Not quite the same situation except that we now appear to all be in the "User pays boat".

Government / Politicians / Local authorities - it really beggars belief - IMHO - all things considered they all need to improve 110% before they come close to being classed as pathetic....

[bsrlee]

I'd query whoever says he has to have a printed copy of the Police Report. As Rustynail says, the report number is generally considered sufficient.

If the cop says it will cost $150 for a copy, that is the Police Department's decision, not the cop's, and your son should not need a print copy.

If the counter jumper at the Post Office or where ever he is trying to get a replacement passport from is demanding printed copies I'd be making enquiries further up the food chain, such as the Centre Manager or the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (who actually issue the thing). The DFAT web site does not indicate he would need a print copy of the report, only the passport number and he has to provide personal identification at an 'interview', then pay the DFAT fee for issuing a replacement passport. He can even do it on-line or over the phone (mostly).

[Sturdee]

I'd query whoever says he has to have a printed copy of the Police Report. As Rustynail says, the report number is generally considered sufficient.

.....and.....

The DFAT web site does not indicate he would need a print copy of the report, only the passport number and he has to provide personal identification at an 'interview', then pay the DFAT fee for issuing a replacement passport. He can even do it on-line or over the phone (mostly).

Actually the Australian Passport Office says that he must provide the original police report that describes the circumstances of the theft of your passport and details of where your passport was stolen.

Also he must pay a lost or stolen passport fee in addition to the normal issuing fee and I hope he advised the Passport Office of the stolen passport at the time, which as per the second part of your quote can be done on line or on the phone, else further problems may arise.


Peter.

[MBM888]

Who said "crime doesn't pay". All I know is that being a victim of crime costs and costs and costs.
Right now on the Gold Coast, crime is at unprecedent levels and growing...and I mean in a big way...all organised crime gangs.....drugs, prostitution, weapons, motor vehicles, fraud, ID theft, etc, etc, etc and it appears the authorities are powerless to do anything that may even hint at cleaning up this town.

I sympathise with you and your son.

[artme]

Actually the Australian Passport Office says that he must provide the original police report that describes the circumstances of the theft of your passport and details of where your passport was stolen.

Also he must pay a lost or stolen passport fee in addition to the normal issuing fee and I hope he advised the Passport Office of the stolen passport at the time, which as per the second part of your quote can be done on line or on the phone, else further problems may arise.


Peter.

Sturdee,

The issue here is having to pay for a report from the police; a report that has already been written!This is the insult that has been added to the injury.

I maintain the report should be free, or at least paid for by the thief.

[fineboxes]

Yep it sucks I had a trailer stolen from my front yard once.

I had to pay $75.00 so I could get back what was rightfully mine in the first place how does that work



Cheers

Steve

[BobL]

Actually the Australian Passport Office says that he must provide the original police report that describes the circumstances of the theft of your passport and details of where your passport was stolen.

Also he must pay a lost or stolen passport fee in addition to the normal issuing fee and I hope he advised the Passport Office of the stolen passport at the time, which as per the second part of your quote can be done on line or on the phone, else further problems may arise.
Peter.

The lost or stolen passport fee may be refunded.

Lost or stolen passport fee refunds The lost or stolen passport fee may be refunded in somecases.You can apply for a refund if:
> thecircumstancesofthelossortheftwereoutsideyour control and were not due to your carelessness and
> thelossortheftisnotcoveredbyaninsurancepolicy.Refund claims must be received within three months
of a replacementpassportbeingissued.
Claims for refund must include:
> full name, passport number, and date and place oflodgement of your application for a replacement passport
> asupportingstatementdescribingthecircumstancesof the loss or theft of your passport
> confirmationthatthecircumstancesofthelossortheftof your passport are not covered by an insurance policy

[Bob38S]

Yep it sucks I had a trailer stolen from my front yard once.

I had to pay $75.00 so I could get back what was rightfully mine in the first place how does that work



Cheers

Steve

How does that work?

You had to pay $75 to......?

If it was the "authorities" wouldn't that be, at best ransom, at worst theft or is it now in fact "finders keepers losers weepers" - unless you pay up.

Perhaps, taken to its logical conclusion, we should be charging the "authorities" every time we fill in a form at their request.