A motorist who discovered the back windscreen of his car had been smashed in one morning earlier this month was told by the police that they couldn't come to investigate it - and advised him to ask around in case there was any CCTV of the crime.
So the driver did just that - and discovered the moment his car windscreen had been smashed had been captured on CCTV from a nearby shop.
Mohamed Mohamud had parked his car in Grosvenor Road in St Pauls on August 15 and came back to it the following morning to find the windscreen smashed and his car littered in broken glass.
He posted an image of his damaged car on social media and said he'd contacted the police but they 'didn't seem interested in investigating it'.
His cause was taken up by Abdihakin Asir, from the Bristol Somali Community Association, who called on the police to do more to at least try to solve the crime.
Mr Mohamud said the police told him they couldn't come out and investigate unless there were witnesses or CCTV, and suggested to the victim that he should do his own detective work and try to find some.
Mr Mohamud did just that - and managed to get a film of the actual moment one man smashes the rear windscreen.
The CCTV video shows two men wandering up Grosvenor Road, initially pushing an industrial wheelie bin into the front of the car. They then pass the car and one of the men repeatedly hits the read windscreen until it shatters.
"Mohamed did his own investigation and found the video," said Abdi. "We were shocked seeing the victim doing everything he could but police were just not moving a finger. Police always say 'report any crime' but now for some, neighbourhood reporting isn't enough," he added.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police said Mr Mohamed was advised that without any witnesses or CCTV footage, the police wouldn't launch a full investigation.
"We received a report of a car being damaged in Grosvenor Road, Bristol, between 9pm on 15 August and 11.15am the following morning," he said.
"We’d ask anybody who saw what happened, or has footage showing the street during that time, to get in touch.
"Anyone with information relating to what happened is asked to report it online at www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/report or call 101 and give reference number 5220185171," he added.
