Man told to pay for return of stolen car

David Parker, 48, said being told to pay the hefty sum “adds insult to injury”, just hours after thieves stole and dumped his Daihatsu four-by-four.

The father-of-two who lives at the Crayke in Bridlington, said: “I was disgusted - I have been robbed.

“It was locked inside a shed and they damaged the doors and windows of cars as they tried to get the batteries out of them.

“The car was found near Beeford Post Office after someone had reported it.”

However David said he has no intention of paying the fee because the car was intended for spare parts and not for road use.

“To add insult to injury, I have to pay £225 to get it back,” he added. “I’m just going to leave it. It’s not really worth messing about. But it’s still our property.”

David said he is fed-up of criminals targeting his business, and blames a lack of police presence for repeated attacks against his business, Lissett Autos.

He added: “The first time a car was stolen was on April 11 last year. They took a customer’s Mini Cooper, which was found burnt-out near Brandesburton.

And thieves returned only last month to pilfer tools and other goods from one of his garages at Lissett.

He said: “I have been here years and years and the police use to regularly check this place, but they don’t anymore”.

The threat of burglaries has forced David to come into work in the early hours of the morning to guard his business.

A police spokesman said crime victim David is responsible for paying to receive his stolen car. They said: “Police were notified of the theft of a 4x4 vehicle from commercial premises in Lissett, Driffield between 6pm on 11 March and 4.30 am on 12 March.

“The vehicle had been reported earlier as having been abandoned in the Beeford area. Following the theft being reported, the owner was made aware that the vehicle had been recovered by police. Enquiries are ongoing into the theft and the owner has been made aware that the cost of recovery and storage will be his responsibility as the vehicle has been located. In such circumstances this cost is often made via the relevant insurance company.

“Anyone who has information in connection with the theft is asked to call Humberside Police on 101 quoting crime reference number CS/217404.”