“We would always encourage anyone to call 999 if a crime is ongoing”

Avon and Somerset police have issued a statement about a theft from a car in Bristol that was captured on camera by a passing motorist, who was then told police wouldn’t be investigating. The theft, which happened in broad daylight on Monday morning last week (July 21), was filmed by a surprised driver as he approached a junction in East Bristol, and saw two masked young men around a parked car with its back window smashed.

Bristol Live revealed last Friday that he filmed what happened and watched as one of the young men filled a blue cardboard recycling bag with items from the boot of the car, while the other waited on an e-motorbike at the junction of Northcote Road and Church Road in St George.

But within hours of the man reporting what had happened to police, he was told in an email from the police that they wouldn’t be investigating because the incident hadn’t reached the threshold of being something the police would realistically be able to solve – because the young men were wearing face coverings.

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Now, Avon and Somerset police have responded to Bristol Live, and appealed for anyone with information that could identify the thieves to get in touch. A spokesperson also urged everyone who sees a crime in progress or one where the suspects are still in the area to call 999.

The statement from the police confirmed they had the details of the crime reported through the police’s online form. “On Monday 21 July we received an online report that two men had smashed the window or a car in Northcote Road in St George, Bristol before stealing bags and other items from it,” it said.

Images from a video filmed of two young men stealing from a car in Northcote Road, St George, on Monday, July 21, 2025Images from a video filmed of two young men stealing from a car in Northcote Road, St George, on Monday, July 21, 2025(Image: Bristol Post submitted)

“The incident was said to have taken place earlier that day and the men involved were both described as being in their late teens or early 20s. They were wearing face coverings at the time and one was riding an electric bike and left the scene after being confronted by a member of the public.

“The report was assessed by investigators and an update was then provided to the member of the public who reported the incident. Due to there being no clear facial images of the suspects, it was initially assessed that there were no further proportionate lines of enquiry to identify them and that there would be no realistic prospect of meeting the high evidential threshold required for prosecution.

“We would always encourage anyone to call 999 if a crime is ongoing or the suspect is still in the area to enable officers to immediately respond. Anyone who has any information that could help us identify these men should call 101, using the reference number 5225206162,” he added.

Images from a video filmed of two young men stealing from a car in Northcote Road, St George, on Monday, July 21, 2025Images from a video filmed of two young men stealing from a car in Northcote Road, St George, on Monday, July 21, 2025(Image: Bristol Post submitted)

After receiving that initial response last Monday from the police, the eye-witness encouraged people to continue to ‘stand up and make an effort’ to stop the thieves. “The fact it was broad daylight at the time shows these kinds of people know that they will get away with it,” he said.

“People should realise the need to stand up and make an effort to stop this kind of stuff before it goes too far. People are too quick to look the other way or say ‘it’s none of my business’. All it takes is a little pushback and they’ll have second thoughts,” he added.

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