Police won’t return stolen recovered car

Ectophile

There's a lot of wishful thinking going on here.

If the police require the car as evidence in a criminal investigation, then they won't hand it back.  You can talk to anyone you like, but the police won't hand the car back until they are done with it.

maxmycardagain

is it on finance?

Okell

Ectophile said:

There's a lot of wishful thinking going on here.

If the police require the car as evidence in a criminal investigation, then they won't hand it back.  You can talk to anyone you like, but the police won't hand the car back until they are done with it.

This   ^^^^

I can't imagine the OP writing to their MP or to their local Police and Crime Commissioner will achieve anything.        Neither of them are able to interfere in police operational matters.

This sort of thing must happen all the time and I'd have thought the OP needs to speak with their insurer about it - although I'm not sure what the insurer can do in this sort of situation.   (Might be interesting if @DullGreyGuy or @Aretnap have had experience of this.)

The perhaps one good suggestion was for the OP to go to the relevant police station - if he can find it - and not leave until somebody has given him an answer as to how much longer they are likely to be keeping the car.  Is it likely to be available within a couple of weeks or might it be needed for a trial which might be months or years in the future.

What I'd say is definitely wrong is what a previous poster said had happened to his mum in a similar case where she was charged storage fees for the car!  OK it was only three days but surely that should be an operational cost of the police in gathering evidence?

Although the police suggesting in that case that the storage charges flowed directly from the theft indicates that this is still an insurance matter?

cw8825

Could you speak to your insurer about them total lossing the car?
Depending on the condition/ what’s happened you may not want the car back. 
If they are going to be liable for ongoing storage charges it could be a possibility 

Mildly_Miffed

Even if the police release it tomorrow, it's going to be taken by the insurer for repairs.

If they decide that the repairs are not financially worthwhile, they'll still call it a total loss and just pay you out.

The storage costs are part of your theft claim.

Bigphil1474

That's assuming there's anything wrong with the car. Might have just been used to do some shoplifting and the officer investigating might be off sick. I think the OP should be finding out what's happening by going down to the station as others have suggested, and at least finding out what condition the car is in. If it's a wreck, get onto the insurers. 

DullGreyGuy

Okell said:
What I'd say is definitely wrong is what a previous poster said had happened to his mum in a similar case where she was charged storage fees for the car!  OK it was only three days but surely that should be an operational cost of the police in gathering evidence?

Although the police suggesting in that case that the storage charges flowed directly from the theft indicates that this is still an insurance matter?

You aren't charged storage fees whilst the police are refusing to release it but you have a very short window from them saying you can have it back to it starting to incur fees. Assuming you claim on your insurance then the storage fees typically will be covered by the insurer.

Generally the police dont keep vehicles very long, the interiors are terrible for collecting finger prints etc because everything is textured but backlogs, sickness etc can all add up. Sometimes it feels like the police are a law unto themselves though and whist 95% are released quickly others get held for an age with no obvious reason, not even after you buy the police report. 

daivid

Ectophile said:

There's a lot of wishful thinking going on here.

If the police require the car as evidence in a criminal investigation, then they won't hand it back.  You can talk to anyone you like, but the police won't hand the car back until they are done with it.

The OP states they are not getting any sort of answers and promises of a call back from the officer in charge of the matter are unfulfilled. Getting an MP/PCC/ to ask what is going on for you is quite likely to get an answer as they are going to ask someone much higher up who has no interest in the matter whatsoever but wants to be able to say they have dealt with it (by telling someone to deal with it…). As you say this is not going to get the car returned if it is evidence, but least with some clarification the OP will be in a better position to decide what to do regarding transport needs etc. 

Hoenir

daivid said:

Ectophile said:

There's a lot of wishful thinking going on here.

If the police require the car as evidence in a criminal investigation, then they won't hand it back.  You can talk to anyone you like, but the police won't hand the car back until they are done with it.

The OP states they are not getting any sort of answers and promises of a call back from the officer in charge of the matter are unfulfilled. 

A call to sorry cannot say anything to you at the moment. What an unproductive use of taxpayers money. Far too often the way of the world. 

ontheroad1970

Hoenir said:

daivid said:

Ectophile said:

There's a lot of wishful thinking going on here.

If the police require the car as evidence in a criminal investigation, then they won't hand it back.  You can talk to anyone you like, but the police won't hand the car back until they are done with it.

The OP states they are not getting any sort of answers and promises of a call back from the officer in charge of the matter are unfulfilled. 

A call to sorry cannot say anything to you at the moment. What an unproductive use of taxpayers money. Far too often the way of the world. 

I bet you would be demanding answers if it was you in that position.