Car abandoned outside my house, what do I do?

Proxima · 14th September 2009, 15:14

Guys,

There is a white Esteem ('96 or '97 model) parked outside my house for about 2 weeks now. Initially, we thought it was our owners but after checking with them a couple of day back, figured out that it was abandoned.

Our owners and my dad signed a complaint letter and handed it over to the police station nearby but they seemed to want money to remove the car. We refused and then they said they will come and remove it. I dallied 100 to see if there is another way but they asked me to give a complaint at the police station which we already did.

The car is very dirty now with a lot of crow-poo and dust and the street dogs are very happy under the car. However, the car seems to be in good condition. My questions are:

What else can we do to get rid of the car (legally)?
Why would someone abandon a car in good condition?
Can there be a security threat because of an abandoned car?

Has anyone else faced a similar situation?

MalluDude · 14th September 2009, 15:19

If the number plates are there, then it shouldn't be a chore to trace it's owners. Is it from your state? It might even be a stolen vehicle from someplace abandoned there.

Legally, not sure, since it's not causing you any hindrance, is it?

sdp1975 · 14th September 2009, 15:21

It's surprising too see the police not acting seriously on an abandoned vehicle. They should come and inspect it - see what's inside before removing it. It's their responsibility to tow it away.

My suggestion would be not to touch it. Try escalating the matter to the senior police officers if nothing is done in a day or two.

vkochar · 14th September 2009, 15:29

If it is parked outside your house then you have complete legal right to get it removed from there.

The cops will keep asking money BUT please refuse as this is their job to get it removed.

Please notify the local newspaper who will publish a small news.. I did this sort of a thing years back.

Gilead · 14th September 2009, 15:35

An Indica that has been in an accident was dumped outside by apartment too nearly a couple of years ago. Apparently it belonged to a neighbor of mine who had vacated a month prior to the car's appearance. Some guys towed it and came looking for the neighbor. When they found out he does not live there any more, they just abandoned the car right there and went away!

The police were not too keen on moving it as well. But they finally did move it after 2 weeks.

Proxima · 14th September 2009, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalluDude

If the number plates are there, then it shouldn't be a chore to trace it's owners. Is it from your state? It might even be a stolen vehicle from someplace abandoned there.

Legally, not sure, since it's not causing you any hindrance, is it?

Number plates are my city's (Chennai). Will tracing the owners cause unforeseen problems? It is causing some hindrance when reversing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdp1975

It's surprising too see the police not acting seriously on an abandoned vehicle.

It would have been surprising if they had come to inspect it immediately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vkochar

Please notify the local newspaper who will publish a small news.. I did this sort of a thing years back.

I don't really want to go that far unless it is the last resort.

Gilead - I hope I dont have to wait for 2 weeks.

Alter_Ego · 14th September 2009, 15:44

Inform the local mechanics nearby your place.The word will spread and soon some vehicle sharks will come take it away,dismantle and sell its parts in Shivaji nagar,Bangalore.
Probably they will give you some commission too.

And I am serious about this advice.I did this long back when there was old maruti parked outside my rented apartment for weeks, and caused some scratches on my car when I used to reverse.

neoranjit · 14th September 2009, 15:56

When I read the title, I thought it could be some poor Skoda owner who had to take this step for some peace of mind

I think you did the right thing by notifying the police. Alternatively, call someone from Pudupet. They will take ' good ' care of it

Proxima · 14th September 2009, 15:58

@ Alter Ego and Neoranjit - lol. That will be my last resort.

If Chennai had an online tracing of owners by the vehicle number, it would have come in very handy here!

Gilead · 14th September 2009, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proxima

Why would someone abandon a car in good condition?

There is a possibility that the car was abandoned after a crime.

amtak · 14th September 2009, 16:12

Howz the ICE? are the tires in good shape? There's a truck that had met with an accident on my way to work; A refrigrated van basically. First day, they moved it to a side, next week - I saw the AC missing. 2 weeks later - the tail lights and headlamps. A few more weeks down the line - All the tires were gone and the truck is on bricks!

Its been more than a year now its just a shell that's there. I doubt if the engine is also there now

. Yeh hai India!

Gilead · 14th September 2009, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by amtak

I doubt if the engine is also there now

. Yeh hai India!

We can expect the same thing to happen in Los Angeles or New York City or any other crowded city.

MutantX · 14th September 2009, 16:21

Well, I would advice you to place a complaint and have a copy of the FIR with you. You can use this FIR for any further reference.

There are atleast a dozen cars that have been abandoned in my street. Cars like logan, contassa classic, NE118, Fiat palio & Premier Padmini are all abandoned and in really bad shape. We didnt bother much as the cops said they wouldnt be able to do anything.

Extremely dangerous but we would have to live with it!

aaggoswami · 14th September 2009, 16:24

If the car is abandoned after a being used for a crime or something, then police will surely trouble you. Try police help for the last time or inform your local mechanic about this. Ask him to take the car away and scrap it. IMHO an abandoned car in front of your house is can be risky as we dont know why the car was abandoned. For example some people were hit by the car, then they might come searching for the car and misinterpret that this is your car. Good that you have not touched the car.

1) Try police help for the last time.
2) Spend a bit of money with newspaper add claiming that car with registration number this that is lying near your house and owner is requested to take the car away.
3) If both 1 and 2 does not work, ask your mechanic to take the car away. You are free and the mechanic is more than happy with you. You are tension free.
If police approaches you and inquires about the car, simply tell them somebody took it away and show the copy of letter you had earlier given to police.

wildon · 14th September 2009, 16:27

I just read today from the forum about this

Stolen Vehicles India - Website to track Stolen Vehicles in India

14th September 2009, 15:14	#1
Proxima BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 934 Thanked: 384 Times	Car abandoned outside my house, what do I do? Guys, There is a white Esteem ('96 or '97 model) parked outside my house for about 2 weeks now. Initially, we thought it was our owners but after checking with them a couple of day back, figured out that it was abandoned. Our owners and my dad signed a complaint letter and handed it over to the police station nearby but they seemed to want money to remove the car. We refused and then they said they will come and remove it. I dallied 100 to see if there is another way but they asked me to give a complaint at the police station which we already did. The car is very dirty now with a lot of crow-poo and dust and the street dogs are very happy under the car. However, the car seems to be in good condition. My questions are: What else can we do to get rid of the car (legally)? Why would someone abandon a car in good condition? Can there be a security threat because of an abandoned car? Has anyone else faced a similar situation?
	() Thanks

14th September 2009, 15:19	#2
MalluDude BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kochi Posts: 398 Thanked: 78 Times View My Garage	If the number plates are there, then it shouldn't be a chore to trace it's owners. Is it from your state? It might even be a stolen vehicle from someplace abandoned there. Legally, not sure, since it's not causing you any hindrance, is it?
	() Thanks

14th September 2009, 15:21	#3
sdp1975 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,716 Thanked: 1,278 Times View My Garage	It's surprising too see the police not acting seriously on an abandoned vehicle. They should come and inspect it - see what's inside before removing it. It's their responsibility to tow it away. My suggestion would be not to touch it. Try escalating the matter to the senior police officers if nothing is done in a day or two.
	() Thanks

14th September 2009, 15:29	#4
vkochar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Delhi / Agra / London Posts: 2,159 Thanked: 907 Times View My Garage	If it is parked outside your house then you have complete legal right to get it removed from there. The cops will keep asking money BUT please refuse as this is their job to get it removed. Please notify the local newspaper who will publish a small news.. I did this sort of a thing years back.
	() Thanks

14th September 2009, 15:35	#5
Gilead Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 2,142 Thanked: 60 Times	An Indica that has been in an accident was dumped outside by apartment too nearly a couple of years ago. Apparently it belonged to a neighbor of mine who had vacated a month prior to the car's appearance. Some guys towed it and came looking for the neighbor. When they found out he does not live there any more, they just abandoned the car right there and went away! The police were not too keen on moving it as well. But they finally did move it after 2 weeks.
	() Thanks

14th September 2009, 15:44	#7
Alter_Ego BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 444 Thanked: 113 Times View My Garage	Inform the local mechanics nearby your place.The word will spread and soon some vehicle sharks will come take it away,dismantle and sell its parts in Shivaji nagar,Bangalore. Probably they will give you some commission too. And I am serious about this advice.I did this long back when there was old maruti parked outside my rented apartment for weeks, and caused some scratches on my car when I used to reverse.
	() Thanks

14th September 2009, 15:56	#8
neoranjit BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 588 Thanked: 196 Times View My Garage	When I read the title, I thought it could be some poor Skoda owner who had to take this step for some peace of mind I think you did the right thing by notifying the police. Alternatively, call someone from Pudupet. They will take ' good ' care of it
	() Thanks

14th September 2009, 15:58	#9
Proxima BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 934 Thanked: 384 Times	@ Alter Ego and Neoranjit - lol. That will be my last resort. If Chennai had an online tracing of owners by the vehicle number, it would have come in very handy here!
	() Thanks

14th September 2009, 16:12	#11
amtak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai - The city of Sea Link!!! Posts: 2,983 Thanked: 1,108 Times	Howz the ICE? are the tires in good shape? There's a truck that had met with an accident on my way to work; A refrigrated van basically. First day, they moved it to a side, next week - I saw the AC missing. 2 weeks later - the tail lights and headlamps. A few more weeks down the line - All the tires were gone and the truck is on bricks! Its been more than a year now its just a shell that's there. I doubt if the engine is also there now. Yeh hai India!
	() Thanks

14th September 2009, 16:21	#13
MutantX BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Madras Posts: 868 Thanked: 93 Times View My Garage	Well, I would advice you to place a complaint and have a copy of the FIR with you. You can use this FIR for any further reference. There are atleast a dozen cars that have been abandoned in my street. Cars like logan, contassa classic, NE118, Fiat palio & Premier Padmini are all abandoned and in really bad shape. We didnt bother much as the cops said they wouldnt be able to do anything. Extremely dangerous but we would have to live with it!
	() Thanks

14th September 2009, 16:24	#14
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,997 Thanked: 3,000 Times	If the car is abandoned after a being used for a crime or something, then police will surely trouble you. Try police help for the last time or inform your local mechanic about this. Ask him to take the car away and scrap it. IMHO an abandoned car in front of your house is can be risky as we dont know why the car was abandoned. For example some people were hit by the car, then they might come searching for the car and misinterpret that this is your car. Good that you have not touched the car. 1) Try police help for the last time. 2) Spend a bit of money with newspaper add claiming that car with registration number this that is lying near your house and owner is requested to take the car away. 3) If both 1 and 2 does not work, ask your mechanic to take the car away. You are free and the mechanic is more than happy with you. You are tension free. If police approaches you and inquires about the car, simply tell them somebody took it away and show the copy of letter you had earlier given to police.
	() Thanks

14th September 2009, 16:27	#15
wildon BANNED Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,442 Thanked: 1,252 Times View My Garage	I just read today from the forum about this Stolen Vehicles India - Website to track Stolen Vehicles in India
	() Thanks