Obviously nothing will completely cut out crime, but while the public is against CCTV it'll be harder for local councils to invest in it properly, and there'll be no market for better quality CCTV technology. And in fairness to the Police, unless the crime was being reported as it happened (you didn't say, if it was then I apologise), nothing much would have been achieved by turning up sooner. And what's the problem with checking tax discs etc? They're still offences too :P