I found my £10,000 stolen goods using Apple trackers - but police 'let the thief GO due to a lack of evidence'

A father turned detective to help police catch the thief who stole his luggage – only for him to be released because of ‘insufficient evidence’.

Four suitcases, collectibles and clothes worth £10,000 were stolen from Vishal Patel’s secure unit at a Shurgard storage facility.

Thankfully, the 43-year-old individual had strategically placed Apple AirTag trackers in the bags, enabling him to easily track their movements. Subsequently, he embarked on a daring pursuit across London to retrieve his belongings.

After an exhaustive search, he managed to pinpoint the location of his possessions to a conspicuous yellow van. Without hesitation, he contacted the authorities. Upon inspection, law enforcement discovered one of his unmistakable white Samsonite cases in the van and apprehended the driver on suspicions of dealing with stolen goods and possessing a flick knife.

Despite providing the police with information regarding the other air tags, Mr. Patel was shocked to learn, three weeks later, that the suspect had been let go without any charges pressed, as he was not found with the stolen items.

‘That obviously isn’t true at all because this guy was caught with my suitcase in his van,’ the father-of-two said. ‘It defies belief. This was literally an open goal.

‘The police are either not doing their jobs because they are lazy, or they are just incompetent.’

Mr Patel realised his £158-a-month storage unit in Hatch End, north-west London, had been raided when he went to the facility to store a chair on December 9. He said there was  no sign of forced entry.

Criminals stole four suitcases, collectibles and clothes worth roughly £10,000 from Vishal Patel’s (pictured) secure unit at a Shurgard storage facility

Criminals stole four suitcases, collectibles and clothes worth roughly £10,000 from Vishal Patel’s (pictured) secure unit at a Shurgard storage facility

Mr Patel was able to track his stolen goods across London with a hidden air tag

Mr Patel was able to track his stolen goods across London with a hidden air tag 

‘The police are either not doing their jobs because they are lazy, or they are just incompetent.’

Mr Patel first realised his £158-a-month storage unit in Hatch End, north-west London, had been raided on December 9 when he went to the facility to store a fold-up chair.

He said there was no signs of forced entry and the Shurgard padlock – which the organisation insists its customers use – was intact but appeared to be looser than usual.

He reported the break-in to the company and to police, then checked the air tag app which revealed one was in Paddington, west London, one in West Ham, east London, and another was driving around the A40.

Some of the tags showed multiple trips shuttling to and from the same Shurgard storage facility, he added.

Mr Patel then began a dramatic two-day chase across the city.

The corporate headhunter, from Harrow, north-west London, hopped into his car and drove to Sheldon Square in Paddington, where a tag indicated his luggage was.

‘I ended up going into an underground car park where the tag was supposed to be, tapping on someone’s window and asking if I could check his boot for my bags,’ he said.

The van that Mr Patel traced his belongings to before phoning the police

The van that Mr Patel traced his belongings to before phoning the police

Mr Patel tracked his goods to an address near Paddington

Mr Patel tracked his goods to an address near Paddington 

Mr Patel provided detectives with the locations of the other air tags but was astonished to receive a letter three weeks later which said the suspect had been released without charge

Mr Patel provided detectives with the locations of the other air tags but was astonished to receive a letter three weeks later which said the suspect had been released without charge

He reported the break-in to the company and the police, then checked the AirTag app. 

It revealed one was in Paddington, west London, one in West Ham, east London, and another was being driven around the A40.

Some of the tags showed multiple trips shuttling to and from the same Shurgard storage facility, he added. 

Mr Patel then began a dramatic two-day chase across the city.

The corporate headhunter, from Harrow, north-west London, drove to Sheldon Square in Paddington, where a tag indicated his luggage was. 

‘I ended up… tapping on someone’s window and asking if I could check his boot for my bags,’ he said. ‘He let me have a look but sadly they weren’t in there, so it was back to the drawing board.’

The following day, the tags were in Colindale, north-west London, so Mr Patel drove to the area and took photos of every vehicle parked nearby, including a large yellow van, and sat in his car for two hours. 

‘Then the tags began to move, and I saw this yellow van had gone,’ he said.

Mr Patel followed the vehicle back to a road near the Shurgard lock-up and phoned the police, with a patrol car arriving just as two men returned to the van. 

Officers searched the men, who appeared to be eastern European, and found one had £8,000 in cash as well as a flick knife.

The Met Police headquarters at New Scotland Yard. A spokesman from the Metropolitan Police said: 'On December 11, a 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft and possession of a bladed article after the victim provided information from a tracking device on the suitcases'

The Met Police headquarters at New Scotland Yard. A spokesman from the Metropolitan Police said: ‘On December 11, a 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft and possession of a bladed article after the victim provided information from a tracking device on the suitcases’

‘They open the back of the van and literally right there in front of my face, was my distinctive white Samsonite case,’ Mr Patel said. 

The suspect’s driving licence showed he lived in Sheldon Square. Mr Patel was assured that the man’s home would be searched promptly and he was likely to be charged shortly.

‘Two weeks later, the AirTag in Paddington stopped working,’ he said. ‘The battery should last between two and three years – so this indicates someone found it and destroyed it.’

On January 3, Mr Patel received a letter which said the investigation had been closed because ‘when officers arrested the suspect, they were found not to be in possession of the stolen items’.

‘This is just a lie,’ Mr Patel said. ‘My stolen case was literally inside the van, and it was returned to me. 

‘We caught him red-handed and they just let him go. I did most of the work for them and they have still blown it.’

The Metropolitan Police said: ‘Following inquiries, including a Section 18 search of the arrested man’s property, the investigation was filed with him facing no further action. This was due to there being insufficient evidence.’ 

Shurgard was contacted for comment.

You May Also Like

Resident frustrated by HOA member’s repeated photos of home, resulting in influx of complaints

A CALIFORNIA lawmaker has supported a bill for more transparent homeowner’s associations…

“Cardinal Robert Prevost, Known as ‘Father Bob,’ Makes History as First American Pope Leo XIV”

A significant moment in history has occurred with the appointment of the…

UPDATE: Father of Wisconsin School Shooter Taken Into Custody on Serious Charges

The father of a Wisconsin girl who allegedly killed two people in…

Man accused of stalking Jennifer Aniston photographed shirtless in court after altercation at her home

A man named Jimmy Wayne Carwyle, who is said to be Jennifer…

Local New York Official Accused of Shooting DoorDash Delivery Driver Who Requested Directions

After a lost delivery driver approached his house seeking directions, an elected…

Sisters Chained to Beds by ‘Brazil’s Fritzl’ Father, Allegedly Drugged and Raped for a Year: Shocking Revelation

TWO sisters were found chained to their beds where their dad allegedly…

Walmart Stops Using Anti-Theft Measure, Prompting People to Wonder if Other Stores Will Follow Suit

WALMART shoppers have been left confused after the retailer apparently abandoned one…

Deputy Prime Minister of Spain Attacked by Man with Knives in Daylight Incident, Police Use Taser to Apprehend Suspect

SPAIN’S Deputy PM was targeted by a man brandishing knives in broad…

From Chicago math prodigy to Pope Leo XIV: The incredible journey of Robert Prevost

Starting as a promising math prodigy in the United States, Pope Leo…

Cardinal announces new pope: 267th pontiff introduced as crowds of cheering Catholics watch.

Robert Prevost has been named as the new Pope and will become…

Two thieves at Target managed to steal items worth $141,000 using a clever trick – they evaded capture across 21 states.

TWO Target shoppers have been jailed for stealing more than $100,000 worth…

Parents concerned about their children’s safety at expensive Montessori nursery where staff member allegedly mistreated children, capturing photos of their injuries during bath time, as revealed in court proceedings

Concerned parents at a Montessori nursery, costing £1900-a-month, revealed that they had…