The case in summary: Summary: Jonny Hesthammer caught a boat thief red-handed in Bergen, but the police did not have the capacity to prioritize the case. Hesthammer found the boat damaged and abandoned, and the thief returned to try again. Hesthammer believes that large amounts of money are being lost due to a lack of resources in the police. Inspector in the West Police District, Gunnar Fløystad, understands the frustration, but says that they must prioritize the most serious cases. Statistics from Statistics Norway show that more cases are dismissed than before, which Fløystad believes is consistent with the situation. If’s press manager, Sigmund Clementz, says that crime for profit has increased, but that lack of resources is only a small part of the reason. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. On the morning of 13 September, Jonny Hesthammer woke up to a message from the neighbour. Someone was about to steal his boat from Damsgårdssundet in Bergen. Hesthammer went out, and first discovered what looked like a failed theft. What he didn’t know was that the thief was far from finished. While he was going through the images from the surveillance camera, the thief struck again. And this time he closes. A few minutes later, both the thief and an Uttern Daycruiser were on their way out of the strait. Hesthammer took out the phone and called the police. There he was quickly informed that they could not contribute. But the Bergensar did not give up. After work he took a drive to look for the boat. And there he was. Thrown into a stone wall, with several injuries. PLACE OF DISCOVERY: Jonny Hesthammer’s boat was found here. Photo: Private – I called the police again, but they did not have the capacity to prioritize the case. And the start lock was destroyed, so I couldn’t start the boat either, says Hesthammer. Got help from the thief By chance, someone from the Rescue Company passed by, who said he could help. – Then the thief comes back and tries to steal the boat once more. I sprint away in what he leaves from the quay, take a bet and jump on board, says Hesthammer. The police still said that they could not prioritize the case. – The thief is calm and pleasant, and shows me with pleasure how the boat can steal. – In the end, the Rescue Company takes over and tows the boat to the workshop, says Hesthammer. FRONT DAMAGE: The boat had extensive damage, including in the front. Photo: Private – A fundamental system error Hesthammer told about the story on his Facebook profile. There he questioned the police’s priorities. He believes that great values are lost due to a lack of resources. – There is a fundamental system error that allowed this to happen. Damage worth several million kroner is done a year, which is due to the fact that the police do not have the resources to deal with this type of crime, Hesthammer believes. Boatman: Jonny Hesthammer, day-to-day manager of Norsk Kjernekraft AS, and boatman in his spare time. Photo: Private Even if Hesthammer experienced having to sort out the situation himself, he believes that he has no grounds for blaming the police. – I have no right to be angry at the police, who are trying their best with their resources. But I am concerned that this thief, and others in a similar life situation, feel that it is free and that the police do not care about them. He has reported the case to the police. ENGINE DAMAGE: When Hesthammer found the boat, the engine hit the wall. Photo: Private – I would have liked to have had more capacity The police officer in the West police district, Gunnar Fløystad, understands that it is hopeless to stand there with the thief in hand, without getting help from the police. – Yes, that is completely understandable. At the same time, the operations center must make daily assessments of what is most serious. There is no doubt that we would like to have more people to follow up more cases. Fløystad clarifies that Hesthammer’s case has not been dismissed. – Although nothing was done there and then, work has been done on the case and it is under investigation. More cases are dismissed Figures published by Statistics Norway this summer show that the number of cases being dismissed is at its highest level in ten years. That does not surprise Fløystad. – It fits well with the situation, especially in the cities, and this applies both in the West and in other districts. We have to prioritize, and then we prioritize life and health first, which can then override other issues. At the beginning of 2024, the Attorney General issued a circular, which lays down guidelines for what should be prioritized in the event of a lack of resources. Circular from the Attorney General on priorities Here it is stated that in the event of a lack of resources, the following criteria shall apply: The seriousness of the offense is central to priorities. Here, both the penalty framework and sentencing practice will reflect the degree of seriousness. Serious offenses where there is a risk of new criminal acts that threaten life and health should be prioritized higher than corresponding offenses without such risk potential. Cases with custodial imprisonment must be given higher priority than corresponding offenses without imprisonment. If early in the investigation it appears clear that the case has no potential for resolution, the prosecution must be terminated as early as possible to free up resources for other priority cases. It is added that, depending on the circumstances, there may also be reason to prioritize offenses which, viewed in isolation, do not appear to be serious, if the consequences of the damage taken together are of such a nature. Fløystad points out that new types of crime are also part of the reason for the statistics. – Crime has changed. A lot happens on the internet, and it can be more resource-intensive to solve. Gunnar Fløystad, detective in the West Police District. Photo: news Vestland Sees an increase in crime for profit If’s press manager, Sigmund Clementz, says that they are concerned that crime for profit is being prioritized. – It is important for people who experience this type of crime that the police take this seriously. At the same time, we know that the crime picture varies in the country, and that the police must prioritize. Sigmund Clementz, press manager at If. Photo: If Industry figures from Finance Norway show an increase in crime for profit. – For example, theft from cars has increased by 27.3 per cent in the first half of this year, compared to the first half of last year, while theft covered by contents insurance has increased by 10 per cent at the same time, says Clementz. He believes that lack of resources is probably only a small part of the picture, and that the problem is compound. – Everything from local celebrities to mobile profit criminals are behind it. Around Oslo and in Austlandet elsewhere, one is particularly exposed to thieves who operate in an organized manner. Published 27/09/2024, at 14.04
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Jonny Hesthammer caught the thief, but the police did not prioritize the case – news Vestland
