While witnesses waited for 15 minutes for their phone call to be put through to the police, Hayden Burton's car was ransacked.

Instead of 999, his well-meaning neighbours had rung 0845-0454545 for general inquiries--and that gave the thief time to complete his dirty work.

Delivery-driver, Mr Burton, was so busy on his computer that he knew nothing of the midnight goings-on outside his home in Stockbridge Road, Winchester.

But a family of three, across the road, heard the sound of breaking glass and they called police right away.

However, they were helpless to intervene and, as they waited and waited to be put through, they could only watch the thief methodically looting the car--even removing the parcel shelf to reach stereo speakers in the boot.

It was only when he walked up Hatherley Road, that they decided to follow by car. But when he turned round, they thought better of it and returned home.

The son was still on the phone waiting to speak to Winchester police...

Once alerted, the police arrived in minutes but, by then, the thief had already left, taking CDs, a stereo and speakers, worth a total of £600, from the car.

"My neighbours did all they could," said Mr Burton. "But I spoke to someone at Winchester police station the next day and he couldn't believe they had to wait so long.

"The North Walls station phone number isn't publicised any more and the people who reported the crime went through this 0845 number."

Acting chief inspector for Central Hampshire, Chris May, said: "If people are seeing a crime happening, its the treble nine system they should use. The 0845 number should be for general enquiries of a non-urgent nature.

"Urgency is a subjective issue, but if a crime is in progress it is definitely 999. We want to catch these criminals as much as they do."

He said that the incident was not isolated. Often people called the enquiries number because they were afraid of clogging up the emergency lines.

"It's amazing how people's attitudes vary. Some feel they are bothering us if they call 999; others phone the emergency number for trivial enquiries."