A DRIVER has been hit with a police bill demanding as much as the car stolen from him is worth after it was found by officers.
Robert Hunter had bought a 14-year-old Vauxhall Corsa for his wife for £500. He then took it to Zico’s Garage, Edinburgh, but it was stolen after being left in the forecourt.
Police then towed the car on March 20 after it was found abandoned in North Junction Street.
But it took eight days for the 55-year-old builder to receive a letter telling him his vehicle had been found and he was told he was being charged £496 for storage fees, just $4 short of what he paid for the car.
He said: “It’s ridiculous. I bought it for my wife. They could keep it, but even if they scrap it they want the money.
“Why shouldn’t the person who stole it have to pay for it? They should have to pay for it.”
Police said the hefty fees were calculated because of additional costs related to “specialist equipment” needed to recover the car. A letter sent to Mr Hunter stated the car was removed for causing “an obstruction or danger”.
It addressed to Robert at his Granton home lays out the charges incurred since the car was towed.states there was a £150 “removal charge”, an “additional recovery charge” of £186 and £20 per day “storage charge”, adding up to £496 by the time Mr Hunter got the letter.
Mr Hunter added: “I don’t understand why they took it all the way to Loanhead when there’s another yard five minutes away. They must’ve had the keys because they were in it when it was stolen. They could’ve just parked it up or taken it to the police station. The car is only worth £500. I’ve no idea what the additional recovery charges are.”
A police spokesman said: “Recovered vehicles are held by a contractor while forensic examinations are ongoing and there is no cost to the owner during this time period. The owner is liable for the initial recovery cost, for which a standard fee is applied. If specialist equipment is required to recover the vehicle there may be additional costs.
“The owner is advised to reclaim this cost, as well as that for the initial recovery, from their insurer.”
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