When living in Perth, I had foolishly left my nav bag (a brief case for pilots - a BIG one
) in the car one evening. Came to the car, and the little rear quarter window was smashed, and then they opened the door and took it and the jerry can I had in the car (it was a station wagon). Needless to say, I tromped all over about a kilometer of the area looking for it. Found nothing.
Told police. They didn't care, and were NOT going to fingerprint. Now, this was a flight bag, including my ASIC and pilot license (the ASIC grants you access to airport tarmacs, secure areas etc etc). Cops shrugged their shoulders. I called the Federal Police at Perth Airport. Amazing how fast things started then, when I reported a STOLEN ASIC and STOLEN license!
3 days later I received a call from a local business. They had found the bag thrown over a neighbouring fence, who gave it to them to look after.(I had looked in this area VERY well!) I got EVERYTHING back except the actual nav bag itself (worth a bit of dosh!), all the money that was in it (spare change / petrol money) and a damned good calculator. I never told the Police any updates as I wanted to see what they could be bothered doing, but I did inform the Feds, who likely told the Police anyway.
Anyway Brian, yeah, it sucks. Hit the shops, hit the creeks, hit the alleys and vacant lots.