How to help my OH with his guilt over stolen car?(Long-sorry!)

Prothet_of_Doom

19lottie82 wrote: »

Its not stupid. What would happen if the police found the car abandoned with the key still in the ignition (highly possible)? Then you would have been done for making a false statement and attempted insurance fraud.

Say "Oh !!!!, you mean I left it with the keys in? I never realised. They were my spare one's "

I'm with the honesty bit, but only if asked whether It was locked would I tell them. I wouldn't lie. But I'd wait to be asked before informing them of that information.

1sttimer_2

Well, the police have now found car, but everything except one child seat has been removed and theives have run it to the ground, damaged the bumper and the exhaust, left it in a dreadful mess inside with cigarette buts/sweet wrappers/fast food bags/cups and an awful smell because they had been using it as a collection vehichle for siphoned deisel! We've been told by garage that's not worth repairing, so it's been scrapped.

Theives are known to police and will get an order to search their house(s) so we're now waiting to see if they've kept anything from in the car. I'm not holding out any hope, but you never know.

We've had to pay police to collect it, then again to garage to take it from police compound, so after these costs are taken off, scrap value cash in hand will be £4. We can get our road tax back, so that's something.

He's now pretty well over the shock and upset and come to terms that it's happened and there's nothing he can do about it. He wishes he'd never left the key in, but we can all say that with hindsight. He's sleeping better and now we've got the new door, he's feeling safer.

He's got to go to court to say confirm that it was his car that was stolen, (he's dreading that) and I think once that is done he hopefully can draw a line under the whole caboosh and move forward.

busiscoming2

1sttimer wrote: »

Well, the police have now found car, but everything except one child seat has been removed and theives have run it to the ground, damaged the bumper and the exhaust, left it in a dreadful mess inside with cigarette buts/sweet wrappers/fast food bags/cups and an awful smell because they had been using it as a collection vehichle for siphoned deisel! We've been told by garage that's not worth repairing, so it's been scrapped.

Theives are known to police and will get an order to search their house(s) so we're now waiting to see if they've kept anything from in the car. I'm not holding out any hope, but you never know.

We've had to pay police to collect it, then again to garage to take it from police compound, so after these costs are taken off, scrap value cash in hand will be £4. We can get our road tax back, so that's something.

He's now pretty well over the shock and upset and come to terms that it's happened and there's nothing he can do about it. He wishes he'd never left the key in, but we can all say that with hindsight. He's sleeping better and now we've got the new door, he's feeling safer.

He's got to go to court to say confirm that it was his car that was stolen, (he's dreading that) and I think once that is done he hopefully can draw a line under the whole caboosh and move forward.

Thanks for the update. It's nice to know an outcome, even if it isn't the best.

PinkPop

I just had to register after lurking for so long (years!) to tell you that you seem a lovely supportive wife. It was the criminals fault for taking the car not your husbands for leaving the key inside, they (criminals!) have no idea of the different forms of devastation that they leave behind

1sttimer_2

busiscoming2 wrote: »

Thanks for the update. It's nice to know an outcome, even if it isn't the best.

It wasn't the best news, I know, but then sometimes I think we need these 'kick up the backsides' to get our priorities in order. No-one was hurt physically, it was a car and not a life, and it has made him realise that no-one is immune to thieving of this sort and he will be definitely more alert about what he's doing in the future. That's for now, as it were, - as to what will happen when this is a distant memory as we get older and more relaxed is another thing!

mossstitchmama

Too bad the car is a write off. I had a car taken from outside my last house. I said I either wanted it back all in one piece or not at all. It had been stripped of all four alloy wheels, battery, steering wheel, seats, seat belts and was dumped in a council storage area. Council told me if I didn't move it by the following day they were going to charge me. My response (after a few swear words), was to ask if they thought I was Paul Daniels!

My ex SIL had her old car pinched (H reg Rover). They stole all three of her childrens car seats. Cost her more to replace the seats than she got for the car.


Just one of those things, your husband shouldn't be beating himself up about it. As long as your son is ok, things like cars can be replaced. He didn't do it deliberately. Give him a big hug and tell him to forgive himself because you obviously do.

Hope it all works out ok.

DaveTheMus

Deleted......didn't spot how old the thread was

GwylimT

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

I wouldnt have told the police and the insurers I'd left the key in the ignition and the door unlocked. I cant believe anyone would do that.
A lot of car thieves would be able to get in any car and steal it if they wanted to. I would have just said it had been stolen, end of story.
Why shoot yourself in the foot like that?

So when the car was found with no sign of forced entry, no sign of hot wiring and with a key in the ignition what would you then say to the police?