You are a complete and utter brainless oaf .. you can report things missing or stolen to the police without them seeing the item, They will not see the item unless it is recovered. because it has been stolen. The police will require proof that you actually had the item in the first place. In this case the the cunt provided proof of purchase and as the receipt was from abroad they asked for proof that it have been progressed through customs in the proper way .. they pointed out that if they recovered the camera they would need to inform the revenue and customs who would most likely seize the camera and prosecute him.