It was indeed a real email from a real police man investigating real bike theft. However, he got the reg one digit wrong which is why I got the email. Regarding the email addresses, I was told they do indeed use both forms. Thanks for all your help / sarcasm (delete where applicable)
Imagine that.............Plod getting a registration number wrong.........how could that happen when its all computerised? Did he reveal how he got your email address?
<getting off topic> Isn't that part of the MO though? It's always the "grey man" that is the worst offender. He obviously did well to conceal his first prison term from all those who knew him... It's interesting that there are still people posting on his facebook asking where he is... lol!
Call the police station (get the number from the web or phone book) and don't use the number supplied on the e-mail. Ask for Mr. Irfan. Make sure you speak to him in person and don't just accept he's genuine unless you do. It's not difficult to find out the name of a detective in any police station. I have to say, I find the whole thing dodgy.
So... The lack of formality, poor grammar and lack of information really WERE an indication that it had come form a genuine police source... Imagine that !
So if it was from a genuine source after all, what about the disrespectful tone, bad grammar, lack of information, etc? Presumably that is just standard stuff from the plod of today, is it?
Hi Sir,(respectful albeit a little familiar) I am a Detective from Notting Hill.(introduction) I am currently auditing some crime reports and one where you have been a victim of crime has popped up for clarification.(sets out reason for contact) It appears that the report reads that your motorcycle LXXX XXX a Ducati had been stolen (question with a tone is this true?) Can you confirm if this is the case?( question request for clarification) Thanks and regards ( respectful end) Irfan Hardly the insult of the century.........though i agree its a bit crap. Perhaps you would of preferred, hi this is the Police we need to speak can you call when convenient thanks.
on the face of it the bloke is trying to do the right thing..........however i suspect they are looking at historical crime in an effort to impact on the recorded crimes to get the detection rate up or the recorded crime down.......if i was cynical of course! Oh Ant in the olden days, i preferred the just turning up at your door in uniform.......(if that isnt enough to worry the shoite out of you i dont know what is) generally followed by nothing to worry about honest!!!!!
In my experience, yes! The power tools where stolen from my van a couple of months ago. according to the investigating PC, my van was one of six 'spanked' that night!!
Hi Sir ? How about Dear sir ? Or even better Dear Mr Xxx ? "e-mail speak" is nearly as bad as "text-speak"... Thanks and regards, Ifran - he's a police officer, not your new best mate ! He might as well have said "is your bike bin nicked, innit?"
