Police too busy to watch video 

Police penny-pinching has been in the spotlight this week, with the Police Minister, George Hawkins, under fire for several cost-cutting measures.

On Friday night there was another example of why police say they're under resourced.

In security camera footage taken from one business, you can see a cheeky criminal helping himself to money from a shop till. He was caught in the act by the paint shop's camera, all there for the police to see.

But the police say they are too busy and won't be able to view the tape for another five weeks.

National spokesperson Brian Neeson says you would imagine that if you were going to catch a criminal, it would be best to get on to it straight away,

"It's best to have a look at the tape immediately and find the person who has done the damage before the trail goes cold," Neeson says.

The Police Association's Greg O'Connor says the association is concerned and wants to know more about the case.

"Certainly as a general thing I know that there are suspect files sitting on detectives' desks around the country because we haven't got to them," he says.

The shop manager says it is imperative the police get to this man now.

---

---