Oh you will love this.
About 10 years ago in London I bought a D-reg Montego Vand Den Plas Auto for the wife. 12k from new and looked like new as well. Not the best car, but great condition.
One night I was at a friends house fixing his central heating when I heard a car roar off. 'There goes someones car' I said. It was. Mine!
Anyway, police made me go to the police station to queue up and produce all our documents. Insurance company were not interested as they had accidentally switched our cover from TPFT to TPO when we changed cars and I hadn't noticed.
So, we were one car less.
Anyway, about 8 months later I get a phone call to say they had found it. It had been used in a series of robberies in Hackney, but was basically Ok - according to the police. I had to go to stratford pound to collect it.
When I got there I had to queue up behind several people also collecting their cars. Arguments and rows galore, but when I got to the front the woman behind the counter just turned away and started doing a load of paperwork. 'Excuse me' I said. 'WAIT!' was the very gruff reply. I then said ' Excuse me, I have been asked...' 'I said WAIT - what are you, deaf?' This just made my blood boil so I explained to this idiot that I had come to collect my car, which had been recovered by the police. 'You shouldn't park illegally should you then Mr perfect'. 'Listen to me once and for all you. I am the victim of a crime. You have absolutely no right to talk to me like that. You are a civil servant that couldn't get a proper job and I now understand why you are sat behind bullet proof glass. Ignorant toss pot. Get someone out here who is able to deal with me or I take this straight back to the police station'.
Out came the manager with an even bigger attitude. He tried to lecture me about how I had upset his staff and that they were just trying to help. The rudest pair of winkers I met ever. Anyway, I finally got the OK to go and get it and was pointed to a yard that had about 2000 cars in it. 'Where do I go then?' 'You'lll have to look won't you'
After a LONG look I did spot it. Every panel dented in, door lock missing, ignition missing and looked like a tip inside. I would rather not have it back. then the fun of hot-wiring. Now, forgive my naiveity here, but not being a thief I had no idea what you twist together or anything. Luckily a bloke nearby did and got it started.
On the way home I was stopped by the police as I was driving a stolen car!!!. I was shouted at and verbally abused by this numpty until I waived the release form at him, to which he calmed down and said not to worry then.
I bought a new lock, fixed the door and ignition, cleaned it up, knocked the dents out and sold it for £795 a week later. Double what I paid for it.
Moral of the story? None at all. Unless 'I hate thieving barstewards' counts?