Stolen car recovered, then owner gets ‘pay up or we’ll scrap it’ threat
Mr Davies' daughter was proposed to while in the car, so it holds a lot of sentimental value
A West Londoner whose beloved Humber was stolen, and reported on by us, is now being asked by police who recovered the car to pay for storage.
Matthew Davies was delighted to learn the Metropolitan Police had found his 1965 Sceptre MkI, stolen from a garage in Uxbridge last month (CCW, 17 June). However, his initial joy turned to frustration after a string of delays – including an officer investigating the theft being away on sick leave – meant the car has been left in a police pound, and he now faces £20 a day in storage costs.
Mr Davies – who is still planning to use the car for his daughter’s wedding – said he’d received a letter from the force informing him the Humber has been held in a pound since 19 June. He was also informed the Humber could not be removed until it had been checked for fingerprints, but has not been given a date for when this will happen.
‘I’m very frustrated by how this has been handled,’ Mr Davies said, adding: ‘I still don’t know if I’m going to be held liable for the costs. There’s been no news from the police whatsoever.’
Since being informed on 23 June that the detective handling the case was off sick and unable to take his statement, Mr Davies has been not been able to contact Uxbridge police. A letter sent on behalf of the force on the day the Humber was put into the pound outlined it was being stored at a cost of £20 a day and that he had a fortnight to remove it – a potential cost so far of £280.
Classic Car Weekly is aware of similar incidents where classic owners have been hit by charges levied by police forces and outside contractors for stolen classics that have been recovered. In 2009, Russell Gower was forced to allow Staffordshire Police to dispose of his 1994 BMW 318i E30 Touring after the costs of the force recovering and storing the stolen car soared far beyond its value.
The letter to Mr Davies states: ‘If you are still the registered keeper or the owner of the vehicle, you are required to collect it before 3 July. If the vehicle has not been removed by this date, it will be disposed of. In this event the costs of removal, storage and disposal will be deducted from the proceeds of the sale or disposal. The balance may be claimed by the owner.’
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said she was surprised that Mr Davies had encountered difficulties contacting the station, although CCW would like to add that we too encountered problems trying to get through to the same police station. We rang on several occasions but our calls were left unanswered.
The Metropolitan spokeswoman said: ‘With vehicles that are kept in a pound for forensics, there will be a charge because they have to be collected by an outside contractor. It may be that there won’t be a cost [for the car owner], as investigations change and develop over time. However Mr Davies needs to contact us and to discuss the matter further.’