Can I Make Strata or The Police Share with Me The CCTV Footage of The Thief Breaking into My Car?

amrdeus on 23/09/2021 - 13:33
Last edited 23/09/2021 - 15:42 by 1 other user

My car was broken into while it was parked in my apartment's visitor parking. They stole about $350 worth of stuff and caused about $500 in damages.

There's CCTV footage showing the whole thing including the theif's face. The Strata shared the CCTV footage with the police and both of them refuse to share the footage with me for "privacy" reasons.

The police simply said they showed it to their officers and no one recognizes the man and that's as far as they'll go. I'm happy to just drop it ("Forget it Jake, its Chinatown"), but I feel like I'm at least entitled to see the footage. Do I have any rights to this footage? I was hoping that at very least I'd get a video out of the $1000 loss.

I also think, since the theif was apparenlty riding a bicycle, that he'd live nearby and our neighbors should be keeping an eye out to better protect ourselves. Again, I'm happy to drop it but just want to hear other opinions.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Automotive

Comments

  • No Username on 23/09/2021 - 13:39
    +5

    Unfortunately, no. This is standard practice.

    • amrdeus on 23/09/2021 - 13:52

      Well, as long as its standard, then that sits better with me. Thx

      • sagrules on 23/09/2021 - 14:29

        My strata (NSW) said they will give me the footage to review or i can pay the CCTV company to review it which can be up to $900 cost
        also told me to file a police report.

  • 87percent on 23/09/2021 - 13:41
    +1

    can you ask to just view the footage?

    • amrdeus on 23/09/2021 - 13:53

      I have with no luck. Especially in lock down days. (It happened pre-lockdown though)

  • Ryanek on 23/09/2021 - 13:48
    +5

    Perhaps they with hold video evidence to discourage John Wick style revenge.

    • amrdeus on 23/09/2021 - 13:54
      +4

      Probably, and I do have pencils….
      In reality though, I would probably just post it on our buildings FB page (if I was allowed to) to warn others about him.

      • Gervais fanboy on 23/09/2021 - 14:05
        +3

        lol, I do know that media can get hold of such things to cover them. Police generally cooperates with journalists and shares evidence like that.

        So there might be some way that you could make’em give it to you. All this privacy bs is nonsense anyways.
        I am sure someone on this site would know how.. I am curious to find out as well.

        • Bob Svargis on 24/09/2021 - 08:40
          +1

          Police do not share evidence with journalists generally except when it's under exceptional circumstances, and even then it has to be in the public interest, and it is never just "handed over"

          • resisting the urge on 24/09/2021 - 11:42

            @Bob Svargis: Media Liaison have to initiate, or at least, agree to do it.

            Being lawyers, they write a story based on what they're told, framing the info they would like the community to provide… etc. Then they decide which journos to tell… and more importantly, brief the bosses.

            Basically they get paid instead of the Ds, or GDs, to work the public side of the case.

            Nice work if you can get it, either way, the result is often not up to community expectations, but is… 'explainable', so that doesn't matter one bit.

      • jaejae69 on 23/09/2021 - 19:24
        +13

        A couple of months ago my building had a similar incident. The building handyman immediately pulled the footage and offered to whatsapp the video to anyone who was affected. Then they printed off a mugshot like photo and plastered it all over every entrance to the building and parking lot along with new signage referring to the CCTV system.

        I personally fully support this, the thief has zero right to privacy the moment they stepped onto private land IMO.

  • screensaver on 23/09/2021 - 14:09
    +12

    make a fuss at the strata meeting, check the by laws also. Do a warning flyer about the theif and note that you were dismayed by stratas response. Say they are protecting the thief.

  • bobbified on 23/09/2021 - 14:19
    +2

    …both of them refuse to share the footage with me for "privacy" reasons.

    Their main concern is getting sued by the guy's family if they show you the video and you go and shoot that guy.

    • amrdeus on 23/09/2021 - 16:07

      That's fair. But if it were a bigger theft they would release the footage to the public for their help.

    • selfishnarcissistman on 23/09/2021 - 17:36
      +1

      never heard of a civil case like that before ????????????????

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 23/09/2021 - 14:20
    +2

    Serious question: is 'public' parking within apartment complex considered public space?
    In which case, is the thief entitled to privacy?

    • deme on 23/09/2021 - 14:56
      +2

      No? It's owned by the body corporate and it's enclosed.

      • amrdeus on 23/09/2021 - 16:02

        Not sure I'd call it enclosed. It might be owned by Wilsons parking since its a app/pay area that's used for the shops downstairs. Its undercover in lower ground, but has no gates or anything.

        • selfishnarcissistman on 23/09/2021 - 17:37

          so who has access to the cctv ? who told you you couldnt view it ?

  • amrdeus on 23/09/2021 - 14:23

    Not sure, its a visitor's app paid parking (Wilsons maybe?) which is also used for shops downstairs. Its in an open underground type area (no gates involved).

  • orangetrain on 23/09/2021 - 14:28
    +2

    Ask if it will require lawyers?

    Subpoena the video?

    You need to reclaim damages as the reason. IANAL

    • amrdeus on 23/09/2021 - 16:10

      Do I have the rights to do any of that? How would I reclaim damages? It sounds like they don't want me doing my own investigating.

  • screensaver on 23/09/2021 - 14:45

    what about freedom of information request, talk to a community legal centre

    • deme on 23/09/2021 - 14:56

      To whom?

      • screensaver on 23/09/2021 - 15:11

        both, talk to the community legal centre

        • SteveB00 on 24/09/2021 - 08:50

          Last time I checked, Legal Aid in Sydney would only help you defend yourself. They won’t prosecute.

          • screensaver on 24/09/2021 - 12:31
            +2

            @SteveB00: Community legal centre is not Legal Aid. Its for community advice

    • selfishnarcissistman on 23/09/2021 - 17:32

      applies only to government organisations

  • mickyb80 on 23/09/2021 - 15:39

    Not by just walking up and saying "Yo, me car was cracked. Prob by a crack head. Can ya all give me some vids on this"? NO!

    But you can request a 'closed session'. If they want to allow it without legal involvement/grounds, is up to them and their privacy policy.

    However, why not just get your insurance company and/or the cops to sort it out for you? You can prob end up getting a copy as part of the chain of evidence.

    • amrdeus on 23/09/2021 - 15:56

      As all these cases go, no first party insurance :)…
      What's a closed session? You mean in private?

      • mickyb80 on 23/09/2021 - 16:14
        +2

        yes - private viewing under their control.

  • selfishnarcissistman on 23/09/2021 - 17:29
    -2

    Yes you can get it,it has nothing to do with police as its on private property ,i suggest you arent a owner so you dont pay strata fees right?
    There is no privacy law i can see that forbids you looking at a cctv recording,please show me that law?

    you see its a "policy" probaly not even written made i presume by the building manager ?

    Are you a strata owner ? if you are please read the by laws ,so its not law its the buildings policy , but i bet not even written ?
    so in other words who….who told you it was a "privacy law"?

    I would be writing to the Strata and body corporate asking to see the Written policy

  • JimmyF on 23/09/2021 - 18:06

    There's CCTV footage showing the whole thing including the theif's face. The Strata shared the CCTV footage with the police and both of them refuse to share the footage with me for "privacy" reasons.

    Ok fair enough. The police have the footage.

    but I feel like I'm at least entitled to see the footage

    Why so? Why do you need the footage? So you can see their face and go after them?

    Seeing the footage won't change anything.

    • Woody982 on 24/09/2021 - 08:19
      +2

      I don't understand why people are saying this…

      Maybe he would recognise the thief and assist the police in finding the guy?

      Wut

  • spendmoresavemore on 23/09/2021 - 22:41
    +2

    Sounds like the strata company managing your apartment building is not helpful. You should vote them out. Remember you're paying them to help the you/the owners. I had my storage cage broken into twice, my strata company showed me the CCTV when I asked. First time was some crackhead on a bike (seems like that's how stealing crackheads travel). Second time was someone moving out in the middle of the night and they decided to raid storage cages before they left.

  • Melb69 on 24/09/2021 - 06:02
    +1

    Get yourself a front and rear dual cam dash cam with battery backup and car battery saver. Cam image obviously works better during the day than night. Mind you it won't capture a side breakin. Don't keep valuables visible in car or give impression there is as some thieves are opportunists. I left a towel over my gear stick 2 years ago one summer and some dip sht smashed my passenger window on the street in broad daylight one afternoon. My fav coffe cup and a couple coins stolen and still to this day I find bits of broken glass in my car when I vaccum.

    • bamzero on 24/09/2021 - 10:50
      +2

      Unless of course, they steal that your dashcam too.

  • hueylewis on 24/09/2021 - 08:30
    +2

    so now the privacy of some scumbag criminal is important?
    what is the point of going to the trouble and expense of installing cameras and recorders if you can not use it?
    oh yes, we can confirm that your car was infact broken into. gee thanks, I would never have known that, wonderful, but of what use is it?

  • shortblack9 on 24/09/2021 - 10:52

    Get a lawyer and make it a civil matter.

    • amrdeus on 24/09/2021 - 12:15
      +2

      Wouldn't I have to pay for a lawyer? (more than my original loss)

      • shortblack9 on 24/09/2021 - 13:25

        Depends on the lawyer. It just takes one letter normally. The privacy argument is bs.

        You can then take over the matter yourself. Or if you’re confident you can write your own letter. It’s all in how you phrase things.

  • Blue Suby on 24/09/2021 - 14:17

    Is your car insured? Can the insurance company request the video to prove you didn't damage the car yourself?

    • amrdeus on 24/09/2021 - 15:15

      Nope only 3rd party. Good idea though.

  • pndl on 24/09/2021 - 16:19
    -1

    The answer is yes, you can get the video, but it's going to take time and money. What do you actually want the video for and what is it worth to you?

    • amrdeus on 25/09/2021 - 18:17
      +1

      Are you a hitman or something?

  • pandadude on 24/09/2021 - 17:48
    +1

    Just to clarify are you an owner or just a renter?

    First and foremost check the by-laws.

    Secondary depending on your state you should be able to make an application under inspection of material and/or application by person with proper interest in information.
    Note that they are under no obligation to send you copies of the material. If they wanted to be diffcult they could require you to attend their office to review the material plus they can charge you a fee to access side material.

    • amrdeus on 25/09/2021 - 18:16

      Not sure why you were downvoted. My partner owns it. I wouldn't have a clue where to even start with by-laws…

      • screensaver on 05/10/2021 - 22:39

        when I looked at buying a strata carspace I purchased a strata report and it had the details of the strata management company. I was going to ask if the cameras were working and if we could access them if needed, but decided not to go ahead with the purchase.

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