Car theft victim's £250 police bill
A car theft victim was delighted to discover his motor had been recovered by police – only to be told he had to pay £250 to get it back.
Mel Williams's 25-year-old Ford Escort XR3 was taken in the early hours of the morning while it was parked outside his home at Morda, near Oswestry.
The car was traced to College Road in Oswestry and taken away for forensic examination by a recovery service company used by the police.
Mr Williams said he later called the recovery service to ask whether he was able to have the car back and was told he would have to pay a £250 fee.
The 51-year-old, who works at Terry's Autos in Chirk, said: "The car was taken at about 3am on Monday morning. The police came to the door at about 3.50am to tell me the car had been stolen but they had arrested three lads and had found the car.
"The next day I called the recovery service to ask when I could have it back. They said they police were doing forensic work on it in the yard.
"I called them back later on and they said the forensic work had been done. They said I could have the car back but the steering column had been ripped out, the bumper was hanging a bit and the lights were damaged.
"They said I had to pay £250 to cover the cost of its recovery. I was amazed. I am the victim here and have done nothing wrong but I am expected to pay out. I never asked for the car to be taken away. I will have to pay to repair the damage anyway."
Inspector Rik Klair said: "We are aware of the matter and are looking into the full circumstances."
West Mercia Police spokesman Richard Ewels said that force policy was that the owner or insurer was generally responsible for the statutory recovery fee for stolen vehicles.
"However, there may be cases with exceptional circumstances where the force will consider meeting the cost," he said. "This particular case is still being considered."
