Steal your car back!
What police told car owner after she found her lost vehicle
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| | By Nilufer Atik
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1 | | When Mrs Tina Minister found | | | | steal the car back. |
| | her stolen car parked close to her | | 7 | | So, Mrs Minister reluctantly asked |
| | home, the first thing she did was | | | | her 35-year-old husband Craig to use a |
| | telephone the police. But their | | | | hacksaw on the lock. |
| | response left her stunned. | | 8 | | Still bemused yesterday, she said: |
2 | | Officers advised the 33-year-old | | | | ‘I thought I was lucky to find the car and |
| | accountant to steal the car back again - | | | | immediately contacted the police |
| | by using a hacksaw to break the steering | | | | because I wanted the thief caught. I can’t |
| | wheel lock. | | | | understand why the police did so little |
3 | | They told Mrs Minister they did not | | | | when they could have found the culprit |
| | have the necessary resources to send | | | | so easily. |
| | an officer out to wait for the thief and | | 9 | | I shouldn’t have to steal my own car |
| | arrest him when he returned to the | | | | back. Even if they did not have the time |
| | vehicle. | | | | to wait and watch the car they could |
4 | | Mrs Minister, a mother of two, told | | | | have carried out some inquiries to see if |
| | this newspaper yesterday how she was | | | | they could catch the thief.’ |
| | convinced she would never see her | | 10 | | Mrs Minister, who has previously had |
| | Toyota Corolla again after it was stolen | | | | two other cars stolen, added: ‘The whole |
| | from outside her home in Gorton, | | | | experience has been a total nightmare. If |
| | Greater Manchester. But a day later she | | | | my car was not taxed, I’d be an easy |
| | spotted the vehicle as she was taking | | | | target for the police, but when I’m an |
| | her daughter to school. | | | | innocent victim it seems they can do very |
5 | | Although the number plates had | | | | little for me.’ |
| | been changed and a new lock fitted to | | 11 | | A spokesman for Greater Manchester |
| | the steering wheel, Mrs Minister | | | | Police said: ‘She wanted us to stake out |
| | recognised her personal belongings | | | | the car to catch the thief. Unfortunately, |
| | inside the vehicle. And the tax disc still | | | | we do not have the resources for an |
| | had the correct registration written on it. | | | | officer to sit watching a car. Even if we |
6 | | Greater Manchester Police offered to | | | | did, there is no guarantee that the |
| | send a recovery vehicle to collect the | | | | person who returned to the car would be |
| | car, but said the service would cost more | | | | the one who stole it. |
| | than £100. Alternatively, they suggested, | | 12 | | We would also be in danger of |
| | Mrs Minister could ask her insurance | | | | having to start a pursuit, which we |
| | company to collect the car - although | | | | always try to avoid.’ |
| | this may have meant losing her no- | | 13 | | The spokesman said the car’s |
| | claims bonus. As mentioned, the third | | | | number plates had been taken away for |
| | option police suggested, was to simply | | | | fingerprinting. |