Anger as police suspend theft investigation due to 'lack of evidence' despite CCTV footage

John Crowley caught the thieves red-handed when they were filmed on a neighbour's security camera breaking into his Peugeot 306.

The brazen pair smashed a door lock, stole a Sony stereo, sub-woofer and amplifier, leaving John £1,000 out of pocket.

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The villains even look directly at the camera during the four minute wrecking theft spree.

But police have told John they have suspended the inquiry as they cannot trace the offenders, even though the footage provides seemingly clear evidence.

Forklift truck driver Mr Crowley, 23, from Hanham, Bristol, said: "I'm very angry about it. What does it take to catch a criminal?

"We have video evidence and a time frame of about three hours but the police say they can't do anything about it.

"That tells me that you can commit a crime and still get away with it despite being caught in the act.

"I've just had the car sprayed and I was absolutely fuming when I watched the video and saw them come up to my car and rip the lock off and I couldn't do anything about it."

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The break-in happened at 3am on Sunday. The footage shows a dark coloured saloon pull up nearby.

One man heads to the driver's door and breaks the lock, while the second waits at the rear of the car for him to open his boot.

The pair then casually take the stereo from the front, and rip an amplifier and sub-woofer from the boot before driving off.

A neighbour raised the alarm at 8.30am the next morning when he saw the boot was ajar.

Two officers came that afternoon and took a copy of the tape.

The next day they sent a letter stating: "I regret to inform you that our officers have made inquiries but have not been able to trace the offenders.

"The investigation therefore has been suspended for the time being but if additional information comes to light the inquiry will be reopened."

Mr Crowley's father Charlie, 51, a bus driver, was dismayed by the police's attitude. He said: "They said they have not got the equipment to blow up the images and identify them.

"They didn't take finger prints or even look at the car. What are we paying our taxes for?

"We are policing other countries when we can't even police our own.

"My son works hard, he doesn't earn a lot and is honest and this is how he gets treated.

"They put a man on the moon in 1969 yet the police don't have the equipment to blow up a CCTV image."

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "Unfortunately, that footage has not given us anything significant because of the quality of it.

"While I appreciate that it is frustrating for someone who has been a victim of crime to get a delayed response, I am sure that people can appreciate that on a Saturday night and Sunday morning there are intense demands on police resources.

"Those demands have to be prioritised in terms of seriousness and immediate threat to welfare and property.

"We are treating this as a crime and we would like to appeal for anyone who may have seen the break in or who may have been offered the items for sale to come forward."