Cops 'n' Robbers: Hilarious True Stories of Bungling Burglars and Crafty Coppers [Paperback]

Michael Ventham (Author), Stephen Brennan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

This is a humorous collection of true stories recounting the mayhem, mishaps, and mistakes within the seemingly barmy world of crime and law enforcement in Britain. From cretinous crooks to bewildered bobbies and the bizarre demands of the public, this book has it all.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: John Blake (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844540081
• ISBN-13: 978-1844540082
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,075,171 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining inside Look at the Police Force and Those They Deal With, September 20, 2008

By 

James N Simpson (Gold Coast, QLD Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Cops 'n' Robbers: Hilarious True Stories of Bungling Burglars and Crafty Coppers (Paperback)

Cops N Robbers is a fun inside look at what goes on inside the British police force. Various police officers have submitted humorous stories of dealings with the public, pranks between officers gone wrong, mistakes made by themselves, mistakes made by criminals and other funny stuff. The book is divided into chapters.

1 Coppers and Villains
2 Traffic
3 New Recruits
4 The Public
5 Interviews
6 Court
7 Death
8 A-Z of Police Jargon

The first chapter is probably the weakest with some of the tales being urban legends you've no doubt heard before. The authenticity seems to come on in force with Traffic and the subsequent chapters. Plus they are a lot funnier. This book also gives a percentage of its profits to the Victims of Crime Trust which may sway your decision to buy it if you balancing yes or no.

There is some average stuff in here and some really hilarious stuff too. What happened to one police officer's shirts as he slept as a result of his colleagues who had to get up early for the morning shift's unexpected follow through while passing wind after a big night celebrating a result, well you've just go to read it. The backfiring of a prankster trying to scare a newbie officer in the morgue is also classic stuff.

If you want more the editors say on the last pages they are putting together a sequel. Meanwhile you could also check out Wasting Police Time: The Crazy World of the War on Crime by David Copperfield, it's not quite as good but still a worthwhile read on the same subject.

For a really great inside and hilarious look at the lives of front line emergency service workers you've got to check out Blood, Sweat & Tea: Real-Life Adventures in an Inner-City Ambulance. One of the best books I've read in a while.

5.0 out of 5 stars stories which are true !!, January 25, 2004

By 

"jon2245" (uk) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cops 'n' Robbers: Hilarious True Stories of Bungling Burglars and Crafty Coppers (Paperback)

I am not a great reader of books, in fact the last one i was supposed to read was called PACE !!! (for those of you who have an interest in this book) but knowing one of the authors I thought i had better support a mate and buy it and see what he made of his project. Well i was astounded that i got the book the next morning in the post and i opened it and read a couple of extracts then a couple more and then i couldnt put it down and finished it the same day without any problems at all (until the wife came back and wondered why i hadnt done anything around the house) so i told her to read it and she is worst than me on books and from a non police background and she couldnt put it down either. some of the old war stories literally make you laugh so much the tears run down your legs. I know I am bias but if you want a bloody good laugh then i doubt there is much better and I cannot wait for a second instalment. Thoroughly reccommended. Whats more I know a couple of the stories are factual !!!!!