New York Times' appeal for British people to describe their 'petty crime' experiences backfires

The New York Times has received a sarcastic response after it asked British people to detail "petty crimes" they had been victims of in London.

The newspaper, which has run a series of pieces about austerity and crime in Britain, asked its followers on Twitter: "Have you experienced a petty crime in London? Click to tell us your story."

The article linked to the tweet blames the recent crime increase in the capital on austerity, writing: "A surge in violent crime in London has exacerbated a decade of service cuts under the government’s austerity drive, leaving the city’s Metropolitan Police severely stretched and unable to pursue most suspects involved in minor property crimes."

It then goes on to ask British people if they have been burgled.

However, the 3,000 people who replied to the tweet responded with jokes about British life, including manner malfunctions and the price of a pint.

Journalist Josh Barrie responded: "Someone clipped me with their trolley in Waitrose the other day and only apologised once."

Writer Erica Buist added: "All very funny but this is serious: I said 'after you' to a woman entering a cafe and instead of saying 'no no please, my good lady I insist, after YOU' she went in, ordered exactly what I was going to order for lunch, and got the last one. I almost tutted but I am not an animal."

"Someone held the door open for me when I was still ten feet away and then I had to run and pretend I was grateful. I was sweaty and fuming," said Harriet Marsden.

Twitter user Gareth Owen joked: "£6 for a pint. Daylight robbery!"

Many jokes were made about public transport behaviour, with one user writing: "Someone made eye contact with me on the Tube once. The culprit is still at large, despite a massive police operation." 

Another said: "Once, on the Northern Line in Clapham a small group of people spontaneously sung a Christmas song - council and police failed to issue ASBOs to any offenders." 

Channel 4's political editor Faisal Islam bemoaned the Christmas tree outside Number 10, writing: "Massive tree blocking my line of sight to someone important’s front door."

A similar response was received when a critic for the newspaper suggested that the bulk of British restaurants mainly served "porridge and boiled mutton" and that the London food scene has only recently begun to include food from other cultures.

Neither the New York Times nor the journalist who made the appeal have responded to the overwhelming number of case studies they have received.