POLICE are urging public understanding after a note was left on a marked car as officers helped a 94-year-old victim in Shirley.
An off-duty officer reported an alleged distraction burglary in progress and parked in a space nearby.
When they arrived at the address the man was still there and was arrested, according to Force Response – one of West Midlands Police’s Twitter accounts.
But when police returned to their marked Vauxhall Insignia, they discovered an resident had left a note on the windscreen for parking in a private bay.
The note read: “This car park is for residents only.
“This is just a warning this time if the vehicle is seen again it will be clamped.
“Thank you. (Do not ignore.)”
West Midlands police blasted the note claiming they parked ‘professionally and considerately’ while they were fighting a crime.
Officers took to Twitter to express their disappointment that ‘not all members of the public appreciate the good work they do’.
West Midlands Force Response tweeted: “#Solihull #BUnit attended reports or a distraction burglary in progress in Shirley.”
They said the alleged offender opened the door of the address and was “swiftly arrested”.
They continued: “We then spent some time completing an investigation and safeguarding the 94-year-old victim.
“This meant we had to park our car in a parking space. It was parked professionally and considerately. Unfortunately not all members of the public appreciate the good work we do.
“When at incidents we do have to park our car.”
