Examentrainers

Steal your car back! What police told car owner after she found her lost vehicle
		By Nilufer Atik
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.

Reunited: Mrs Tina Minister and the car she
had to recover herself

Daily Mail