What do you think?
Rate this book
Cops and Crooks: Hilarious Tales From the Beat
Meet Detective Sergeant Lunch-a-Lot, Big Al the Policeman's Pal and the unforgettable "Moose" in Cops & Crooks, Tim Priest's hilarious take on his own experiences as a police detective who spent over 20 years on the beat.
Beyond the high-speed pursuits and bloody crime scenes, there exists another world. A world of bored cops who play pranks on each other and unsuspecting citizens, lazy and incompetent cops whose efforts to avoid work are legendary, and accident-prone cops whom other police avoid because of their talent for causing chaos wherever they go.
And then there are the hapless crooks, a collection of losers, misfits and walking disasters whose pathetic attempts at crime make you almost feel sorry for them.
Beyond the high-speed pursuits and bloody crime scenes, there exists another world. A world of bored cops who play pranks on each other and unsuspecting citizens, lazy and incompetent cops whose efforts to avoid work are legendary, and accident-prone cops whom other police avoid because of their talent for causing chaos wherever they go.
And then there are the hapless crooks, a collection of losers, misfits and walking disasters whose pathetic attempts at crime make you almost feel sorry for them.
207 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 27, 2019
Good for a laugh. Few mistakes, but all in all not bad.
A string of policing stories that are sure to get a laugh.
Reccomend for anyone wanting to see the lighter side of police work.
A string of policing stories that are sure to get a laugh.
Reccomend for anyone wanting to see the lighter side of police work.
July 4, 2025
Cops and Crooks is a down-to-earth, honest collection of stories from the frontlines of policing, told with a clear desire to give readers a glimpse into life on the beat. While the writing isn’t polished or literary, the author’s voice comes through with sincerity and a genuine passion for sharing real experiences. It’s rough around the edges, but that also gives it an authentic charm.
What I Liked:
- The anecdotes feel real and unfiltered, like hearing stories straight from a retired officer over a beer.
- There’s a mix of humour, danger, and humanity that gives the book a balanced tone.
- You can tell the author genuinely cares about the job and the people involved, both cops and crooks.
What I Didn’t:
- There is language, stereotypes and perspectives that reflect the time and culture of the author's service rather than current standards.
- Some stories feel more like loose memories than fully formed narratives.
- A bit more editing or structure would have helped the book flow better overall.
What I Liked:
- The anecdotes feel real and unfiltered, like hearing stories straight from a retired officer over a beer.
- There’s a mix of humour, danger, and humanity that gives the book a balanced tone.
- You can tell the author genuinely cares about the job and the people involved, both cops and crooks.
What I Didn’t:
- There is language, stereotypes and perspectives that reflect the time and culture of the author's service rather than current standards.
- Some stories feel more like loose memories than fully formed narratives.
- A bit more editing or structure would have helped the book flow better overall.
June 1, 2014
Some very funny and some slightly disturbing stories in this book, so it's unfortunate there were many errors. Should be rated a 2.5
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews