French gendarms are hopeless for once im angry grrr

[trouville]

What are the Gendarmes there for?

This year while in Port Carnon someone stole my 36w solar panel. I hadent fixed it in place as it was a bit big to live in one place,i went along to the Gendarmerie i waited with others for 20 mins watching the Gendarmes rush about like headless chickins,when it came to my turn they gave endless reasons why it was nothing to do with them.

A few days later the secratary in the capitanerie came along with a copy of the “Midi Libre”which had a news item about theift in & around the port,it seems the police not Gendarmes had caught a group(gang) stealing & had found lots of stolen goods.She told me to go along to the Police & report my theift to them.I did

The police were helpful, they were far more proffessional than the other lot,they registered the theift but told me there wasnt a solar panel amongst the goods found.They also told me the gendarms HAD to register the theift & gave me a photocopy of the artical making clear their duty.The whole thing cost me two waisted afternoons for nothing.

About 10 days later in another port id fallen asleep after lunch,i been into Montpellier to say goodbye, for now, as i had to leave that evening.Id left my bike on the pontoon,someone disturbed my line,i got up to see if anyone wanted me & saw someone stealing my bike!I use a length of anchorchain raped in sail cloth with a strong lock (anyone whos been to Montpellier will know that bikes are stolen faster & more often than in Holland)

The thief couldnt undo the lock & had begun cutting the chain with a hacksaw!! the sailcloth had slowed him down.When he saw me he dident stop he just went on cutting!!He was very large and not alone so i called the Gendarmes,someone on the opposite pontoon called across to tell me he had already called them.It seems the theif knew how long it would take for them to arrive IF they came at all

I could see me looseing my bike,i took a bucket of water & threw it over him,that stopped him!But he went mad he looked like i wild animal i took the hose but he was trying to get aboard so i used my short boats hook to keep him off.

The Gendarmes arrived!! There was calm the theives didnt move far,the person from the other pontoon came around & told them that it was the same person that had been stealing from the port before,they spoke to the theif then came down to me & asked what had happened? I showed them my almost cut through chain & ripped canvas,i told them i couldnt aford to loose my bike.

The gendarme looked at me & asked if i had thrown a bucket of water over the person,i said i had or i might have lost my bike showed him the almost cut through chain one side of the link cut fully i told him it slowed him down!The gendarme told me he could charge me for throwing water over him & if the theif had hurt himself (trying to kill me)i would have had to pay damages!!I was lucky they said not to be arrested!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Would never happen in the UK scotland or the baltic states

Im angry so im posting to feel better about it but there dont seem to be any active sail forums to post in?Or is EVERYONE on the water??In the med it still seems that way

Im still on the canals

[sahona]

Unfortunately, the victim being charged for defending himself/property can and does happen here as well.
It's likely he will get more punishment than the criminal.

[Telo]

Good to read that you're still causing trouble......

And does anyone know how Huggy is getting on?