"No Further Action".
It started back in early April. I get a call from my boss. A customer has contacted Virgin and claimed I'd stolen an iPod and a digital camera. I, obviously, had not done this! I don't even remember seeing any iPod or camera!. I went there to fix a noisy phone line. A regular kind of job similar to hundreds I've done over the years.
My boss told the customer that he'd spoken to me and would not be persuing it any further. If she was still adamant I'd stolen these items, she should take it up with the Police.
So, I return to work on Monday after my holiday in Devon, to find that three Police officers had visited my boss and wanted to have a word with me while I was away. They'd left a note to contact a PC at Sutton Police station.
I went to Sutton Police station on Thursday, where I was arrested, fingerprinted, DNA swabbed and interviewed. The PC dealing with the case was a nice guy, and we spoke for about 30/40 minutes. I gave my account of what had happened (or rather, what had not happened). We left the interview room and he said he had to go and speak to somebody about what was now going to happen. I'd either be bailed to return following further investigations, or they'd drop it.
I waited in the custody suite for 10 minutes, and the PC came back and said "No further action". He said he believed me 100%. My story never wavered, he wasn't able to trip me up in any way (I didn't know he was trying to!), he was certain I wasn't guilty, so I was free to go.
What a relief! I knew I was completely innocent, but it's like when you're being followed by a Police car while you're driving. Even if you're under the speed limit, have your seatbelt on, not on your mobile, etc, you still feeing a bit of anxiety (I do anyway).
So it would seem the current judicial system has got some things right. I just hope it never happens again. I really hope these items turn up for this customer, whether it's in 3 months or 3 years time. They move a unit, or get out an old bag they use for holidays or something, and there they are. I'd love to see their face when this happens!
That sounds like quite an ordeal for you, i'm glad it worked out for you 
Glad it came good Chris.
A horrible experience Chris, glad it turned out well.
Glad to hear it turned out well in the end, but one of those "life experiences" you wish you'd never had I bet.
surely you just showed him your kit list from your bio and said "there's no way I'd be interested in nicking a crummy iPod packed with 128kbps x-factor tunes". What a terrible experience, although the "no further action" will be more likely on the basis there are two sides to the story and no evidence to back the "fantasy" one up. Depressing as this sounds, I'd be very careful in future. If someone else where to make up a similar outlandish claim, then this will all come flooding back. Always best to "invite" the home-owner to watch you work and chat to them as you do...
Not nice.
Sounds like a bit of attempted insurance fraud to me...
Glad it all got sorted. I got fired from a job years ago for theft- which I hadn't done. It finished off my marriage and left me homeless for three months, until I took my employer to court for bullying and unfair dismissal. I won five grand and then he got fired! Very sweet seeing his face drop in court...
Not nice at all! Hope there really is "No Further Action" and I hope you DNA & fingerprints are removed from file ASAP.
Scary stuff, really glad it got sorted. It must have been utterly sickening but you're a sound bloke and I'm sure you've handled it well. In your sort of job, what measures do your employers take to avoid situations like this? Anyone could say anything and people can't be trusted.
Take it your DNA swabs have or will be destroyed and no longer held on file?
I have a horrible feeling that they will be kept on police file.
slewis:I have a horrible feeling that they will be kept on police file.
Yes they will, unless the new government come through on their pledge to cancel it.
Glad it's turned out alright. I was in a similar situation a few years ago. I had to go to Dorking to answer questions about a company theft (even though I hadn't worked there for 6 months). It was discovered the a director of the company had some people to steal the computers, for insurance purposes. Anyway the Police believed my account that I wouldn't do such a thing. The PC said: "We thought it strange, when we visited the premises, they seemed unconcerned..."
Hi Chris,
Very sorry to hear about what happened to you. I hope you don't find it too traumatic. And just to reiterate what others said already: you ought to make sure that your fingerprints and DNA are not kept any longer than is strictly allowed in line with recent European Court judgments against the UK. It might be wothwhile writing them a formal letter requesting confirmation that they have been deleted (of course, it'd be even better if you have a lawyer friend do it for you, if you have one).
Good luck!
Hedgehog
I once helped to migrate and set-up a cashpoint network and the new ATMs all had built in cameras.
100 percent of the time that customers complained of 'phantom' transactions it turned out (from the photographic evidence presented to them in their branch) to be family members or friends who had used the card to steal from them. 100 percent of them declined to take the matter any further.
I suspect either that the iPod and camera were misplaced (like you said) or a family member/friend is involved somewhere.
[Edit] Given that the Police only took ten minutes to decide you were clear of suspicion also suggests the woman has done this sort of thing before and is well known to them but they have to go through the procedure anyway.
Glad this is all behind you now.
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