Once again victimized by TPD

[dwmorris]

Once again in this crime ridden city I was victimized.  My street legal scooter was stolen right out of my driveway.

Less than 48 hours later it was found 1.5 blocks from my house.   "At the officer's discretion," according to the less than helpful police officer at the station, they had overpriced, price-gouging Storey Wrecker come and tow my scooter away.  I know I could have walked there faster than Storey was able to get there.  Thanks to Officer [name deleted by moderator], I am out $65 plus the damage done to my scooter.

Thanks once again our wonderful police that protect and serve my tax paying butt.

[Copperhead]

quote:Originally posted by dwmorris

Once again in this crime ridden city I was victimized.  My street legal scooter was stolen right out of my driveway.

Less than 48 hours later it was found 1.5 blocks from my house.   "At the officer's discretion," according to the less than helpful police officer at the station, they had overpriced, price-gouging Storey Wrecker come and tow my scooter away.  I know I could have walked there faster than Storey was able to get there.  Thanks to Officer [name deleted by moderator], I am out $65 plus the damage done to my scooter.

Thanks once again our wonderful police that protect and serve my tax paying butt.

Did TPD have your contact information - home, cell, etc. - and did they make an attempt to contact you at time of recovery?  If they couldn't contact you, what choice did they have?

[dwmorris]

We called in to report it stolen.  An officer came to our house where it was stolen from.  They took a report that included our phone number.  We were home all day today.  The only call we received was Storey Wrecker is towing your scooter right now.

And we called Storey Wrecker when we got the phone call from the police. They hadn't even finished towing it to the shop.

My wife is a college student.  I am graduating from college in a week.  We have three kids.  I don't have the money to pay for unnecessary towing fees.  

This is what I mean by no compassion in Tulsa.  A simple phone call or even driving the cruiser over 1.5 blocks would have sufficed to make someone have a better day.

[Copperhead]

quote:Originally posted by dwmorris

We called in to report it stolen.  An officer came to our house where it was stolen from.  They took a report that included our phone number.  We were home all day today.  The only call we received was Storey Wrecker is towing your scooter right now.

And we called Storey Wrecker when we got the phone call from the police. They hadn't even finished towing it to the shop.

My wife is a college student.  I am graduating from college in a week.  We have three kids.  I don't have the money to pay for unnecessary towing fees.  

This is what I mean by no compassion in Tulsa.  A simple phone call or even driving the cruiser over 1.5 blocks would have sufficed to make someone have a better day.

Under the circumstances, I'd be upset too.  Don't hesitate to call the Chief's Section - (596.9378)- and let your feeling be known.  A Thank You for the recovery, but a suggestion on how the return could have been better handled will at least let the brass know a problem exists.  Due to such a shortage of officers in the field, most officers have calls holding in their districts at about any given time, so moving on to the next call is priority.  Although it doesn't minimize the adverse effect the situation had on you, maybe it will at least make it more understandable.

[sgrizzle]

It is also possible that the officer had your contact info but a complete writeup had yet to be done. Another officer found it, found out it was stolen, and had it impounded.

[Wilbur]

Heaven forbid we would actually blame the person who stole the thing in the first place.

[dwmorris]

quote:Originally posted by Wilbur

Heaven forbid we would actually blame the person who stole the thing in the first place.

Yes, the original perp's are at fault.  But the police did not make it any better by revictimizing me.

It would be nice to know who they were so we can get them off the street.  The police are not investigating it.  Other priorities, such as taking reports from other victims.  I had to get my fingerprints to get my drivers license.  They could have fingerprinted the scooter.  But I suppose they would rather use their resources to continue taking reports and writing tickets.

I really don't know what they do.  I would think they would be at least in the business of preserving life.  But when I reported my mother suicidal, the officer took a report and I had to take it upon myself to call all the surrounding law enforcement agencies to make them aware of a pending death.  I suppose their priorities then was filling out the proper reports and impounding her car when they found her dead body.  Oh, and heaven forbid they call me when they find her.  I didn't find out until I called around to see what was going on with the investigation.  They finally told me 2 days later.   [name calling deleted by moderator]  Her suicide note had my phone number written 3 or 4 times.

[AngieB]

dwmorris,
I took a look at your home page and I'm sorry for everything you have gone through. I don't know why so many bad things happen to you, but you can't let it consume you. Let it go and go take a walk, have a picnic, something! I'm no therapist or anything, but I know that if you hang on to so much anger, it is not healthy.
And I really don't think your home page is helping you. Maybe you could take up a hobby -- maybe photography. Photograph beautiful things and maybe you can forget about all the ugliness in the world. Even if it is just for a little while.
Good luck to you.
- Angie

[Wilbur]

Have you made ANY attempt to call the police and ask them to look into why your scooter was towed?  If they find the police did not notify you, the police WILL ask Storey to refund your tow charge.  Contact the police Records Division and ask to speak with the wrecker service liaison officer.  He can authorize the refund.  When a vehicle is recovered, the Records clerk makes a note with the report of the time and phone number when the attempt was make to contact the owner.  I'm confident if they made an attempt to contact you, it will be with the report.

And if you don't like Storey Wrecker being the service the City contracts with, contact your city council rep and have them look into contracting with another wrecker service.  The City has tried in the past to find a wrecker service who can handle the volume, but none were found up to the task.

[sgrizzle]

Remember Storey were the people who let the Child-murderer's van wander off...

Try to get a refund of the fees, you will get no further with an "investigation." I have had 3 cars broken into and property stolen, no fingerprints, no investigation. They generally don't do it with 4 wheel transportation, much less 2.

[dwmorris]

Last night Storey told me I could pick it up this morning.  There would be no storage fee.

Today I picked it up.  2 days storage fee because it came in at 11:35pm last night.  So that is 2 days in Storey's book.  Plus they told me the hook up fee was 55 dollars.  They charged me 65 dollars today.  So my total tow bill was $127.48 for a 1.5 blocks from my house.

I have already called the police records division.  I got the run around as I expected.

[Unsubstantiated accusations deleted by moderator.]

Furthermore, the excuse of not handling enough volume is ridiculous.  The obvious answer is to divide the area between 4 or 5 contractors instead of allowing one company to price gouge.

[DM]

quote:Originally posted by Wilbur

Heaven forbid we would actually blame the person who stole the thing in the first place.

Thats kind of my feeling on this too. TPD did find your scooter. Would have rathered they didnt look and they didnt find it? Then you would be out the total cost of the scooter. Not just the $65 and repairs.

If it were me, I would be happy they found it and thank them. Afterall, TPD is overworked and understaffed and dealing with bigger crimes then a stolen scooter.

Its seems this may just be another example of someone focusing on the bad. Nevermind all the good things in life. (scooter found, wife graduting from college, three kids, etc.) The bad thing always takes your vision away from the good. Thats JMO. []

[DM]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

Remember Storey were the people who let the Child-murderer's van wander off...

Off topic, but I think it was the wife or some other related person of the child murderer that stole it to try and help destory the evidence against him. Maybe I watch CSI to much. lol![]

[Wilbur]

On Monday, call 596-1396.  He is the wrecker service liaison person.  Calling anybody else will get you no where.  He is the ONLY person who can authorize the towing fees be refunded.  He will look into the attempts made to contact you and make a decision based on what he finds out.

[azbadpuppy]

This is just life in the big city. It's not a problem with TPD- its like that everywhere in every city. Not saying its right, but thats how it is.