Businessman forced to watch crooks spend nearly an hour stealing £25k of goods on live CCTV while police refused to attend

A BUSINESS owner was forced to watch his shop being burgled live on CCTV from his home after police told him they were too busy to help.

Photographer Paul Smart called 999 as soon as cameras picked up the thieves sneaking around his studio in Brierly Hill, West Mids.

But after police refused to respond to the call the stunned 65-year-old was left to watch the masked crooks steal £25,000 of equipment over 50 minutes.

999 responders advised semi-retired Mr Smart to call the 101 non-emergency number, despite the crime being in progress at the time of the call.

Burglars armed with iron bars broke into Smart's business, Doodah Creative, at around 2am on May 13.

When the concerned businessman alerted the police his report was passed between two separate forces, with West Midlands Police saying they wouldn't even come out to investigate break-ins at a commercial property.

Mr Smart told how he was left to watch the 50-minute break-in "like an episode of Coronation Street".

He said: "I received a call from the alarm company saying it had been triggered.

"The system is very sensitive and can be set off by something as simple as a spider moving across it, so I didn't think much of it.

Scanning through the CCTV on his computer Smart said he was shocked to see the burglary under way.

"I saw the lights had been switched on in the office, and I was horrified to see two men wearing hoodies and masks carrying iron bars," he said.

"When I realised things were missing from the office, like computers, I called 999 to get through to West Mercia Police.

"I gave them the address and they said 'Ah, you need to call West Midlands Police on 101'.

Mr Smart related his story to the 101 responder, but was again refused help.

"They told me they were very busy and that no one was available because there had been a stabbing in the area," he added.

Incredibly the burglars left and came back again while Mr Smart made a second call to 101, but no officers were dispatched.

"They gave me every excuse under the sun," he said.

"At one point West Midlands Police told me they no longer come out to commercial properties.

"I was shocked. It just wasn't good enough.

"The service I received from the police was absolutely disgusting."

Officers arrived with a forensic team later that day, but according to Mr Smart they were unable to trace the thieves, who had been wearing gloves.

The criminals made off with over £20,000 of computer equipment and studio kit.

Coupled with damage to a shutter window on the 6,000 square foot studio, the cost of the burglary could reach £25,000.

The photography company has been put out of business by the break-in, but Smart hopes to reopen next week.

Sales director and account manager Steve Jones said Doodah Creative and other local businesses have set up a neighbourhood watch-style group to try to protect themselves from a recent spate of similar crimes.

"We had to battle to get someone out," he said.

"The police's attitude was in many ways worse than the criminals' attitude - that they weren't coming out to a commercial burglary.

"You get to the stage where you ask 'why bother?'"

Smart said being forced to watch the live footage of the incident was traumatic.

He added: "I didn't go in myself because I'm 65, semi-retired and I live 12 miles away.

";But I never expected them to be there for 50 minutes. That would have given police plenty of time to catch them in the act.

"They say only to dial 999 when a crime is in progress, which in this case it clearly was as I was watching it unfold in front of my eyes like an episode of Coronation Street.

"When you are watching someone take your property and your hard work away like that, while not being able to do anything, it was awful.

"I have had a verbal apology from the police but that's just not acceptable.

"This is my business and my livelihood, and to be told the crime was basically not important enough was like a slap in the face.

Inspector Gill Davenport, from West Midlands Police, said: "An investigation is under way and detectives are carrying out house to house inquiries, as well as looking at CCTV in the area.

"Second-hand retailers are also being visited so that they can be aware of the stolen property should anyone attempt to sell it.

"We have been made aware that the victim in this case is disappointed with the police response and we are discussing these issues with him to understand the concerns he has and to address them."

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