Police Constable Frederick James Tyler, a member of the harbour police, was on duty in the Town Quay office during the early hours of Monday, 28 July 1969, when he heard the protesting sound of a car ignition being turned.
Glancing at his watch, Tyler saw that it was 3.00am and as he stepped outside of the station he heard the ignition again. Looking up the road he saw that there was a car backing out of Bugle Street into Western Esplanade. The vehicle was facing him now, with its headlights on and even as he watched, Tyler heard the starter motor another three or four times. The officer climbed into his own car and drove down to investigate.
As he approached, Tyler saw that the vehicle in question was a dark coloured Ford Anglia estate car, registration 341 KHO and there were two men inside; one in the driver’s seat and one in the front passenger seat. Tyler asked them what the problem was and the driver replied that he thought he was out of petrol.
Constable Tyler wanted to know more and asked the driver for his name. He said he was John Edison but gave no reply when asked for the vehicle’s registration number. Satisfied that something wasn’t quite right here, Tyler then turned to the passenger who said he was John’s brother. Neither man could produce any documents or identification so Tyler demanded that they accompany him back to the station. The Ford was secured and both men then climbed into Constable Tyler’s car. There, Tyler told the men that he was not satisfied with their explanation, believed that the vehicle they were driving might well be stolen and said that he was calling for help from the Hampshire Constabulary.