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A pensioner who went to a police HQ over a burglary yards away was sent home - because 14 cops there were playing poker.

Graham Hall, 69, was told the building was shut - and a guard gave him a fridge magnet with a non-emergency number. The former financial adviser said: "I'm flabbergasted. You can't even report a crime at police HQ.

"A crime was committed on their doorstep but not one person could be bothered to come out to talk to me because they were gambling. They would rather play cards than catch criminals."

Graham dialled the fridge magnet number and was told an officer would ring back. He has heard nothing a week on.

The dad of four discovered the burglary at 6.45pm at an uninhabited house he owns in Kidlington, Oxon.

A police station 300 yards away was shut because it was after 5pm, forcing him to try the HQ 150 yards along.

A police spokeswoman said cops were at a poker contest at the HQ's social club.

They had not been sent out to investigate straight away as it was "a non-dwelling burglary", she added.