March man watched thief steal diesel from business on CCTV

Steve Emblem said he saw his firm being targeted live, with the perpetrator making off with diesel worth around £2,000.

He claimed he was told officers would attend when he first dialled 999 but was called back just minutes later and informed no units were available. 

Mr Emblem said that by the time an officer phoned him back the next day, the thief was "long gone" and had even closed the gates of LF Logistics before making off. 

He had watched the footage from a birthday barbecue he had attended more than 70 miles away in Essex on August 16. 

The business owner said the only contact he received from the police after the theft was to request copies of CCTV footage from the site on Commercial Road, in March. 

Mr Emblem, pictured, said the theft has had a huge impact on his haulage firm. (Image: Supplied) "I was obviously riled up when I was told no officers could attend and felt helpless being two hours away from the yard," he told the Cambs Times.

"I continued watching this individual steal and damage our vehicles to get the diesel out of the tanks, but there was nothing I could do. 

"They then left the yard and had the nerve to shut our gates behind him as he left, which he had cut through with bolt croppers." 

He added: "This has had a huge impact on us as a small company and it's difficult to stay afloat already as a small haulage firm with no support."

Mr Emblem said he was forced to spend the rest of his weekend repairing the lorries in time for Monday, when they were all refuelled. 

He is also upgrading his security system which, he said, had previously triggered a silent alarm to "catch an intruder in the act". 

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said there "were no immediate resources in the area due to other demand in the county". 

Four minutes after Mr Emblem's call the "suspects had left the scene in a red Volvo with a silver camping trailer, turning right onto Commercial Road."

The force said due to the suspects leaving the scene and simultaneous calls in other areas of the county, the "call was downgraded from immediate grade attendance."

They added: "We apologise if this was not communicated properly to the business owner at the time.

"Officers were committed to a number of immediate grade incidents in the county within the same timeframe – including domestic abuse, firearms, concern for welfare and suspicious circumstances calls.

"A crime has been raised for theft from a motor vehicle, and enquiries are ongoing, including checking the CCTV provided by the business owner."

Anyone with any information, including relevant dashcam footage or video doorbell footage in the area, are urged to report to police online quoting crime reference 35/62158/25. 

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