bike recovery charge...

[plugger147]

On easter Sunday my mother's garage was broken into and my nieces ped was taken, the thing hadn't run since they bought it and the key was left on a hook in the garage. Luckily a neighbour spotted the 2 boys break into the garage at just after 7 in the morning and filmed them and phoned plod, my mother was awoken by several police cars outside and quite upset by it all she's in her late 60's and was home alone so we had call early morning I'd been working nights so the misses went up and when she got there the 2 boys had been caught with the bike not to far away so she told the police we'd get the bike back but they told her we couldn't and they needed to take it away for forensics. Fast forward to today and my sisters back from the holiday she was on and has been told she needs to pay £150 recovery plus storage to get it released, she since spoken to Gwent police to see if there was anyway to get it released cheaper or to claim the cost back from the thieves but apparently the 2 boys were arrested on Sunday and in court on Tuesday after pleading guilty and sentenced to 6 months (which seems very suspicious) so the court couldn't add the cost to their sentence.

So is there anyway around the fee's to get it released as it seems pretty unfair the bike was taken on a recovery truck when I could've been up there and returned the bike to the garage before the truck could've picked it up? It's like having the bloody thing stolen twice and it's left my old lady feeling pretty guilty too.
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Tristan the wrote: just whipped off my trousers to find a big bruise on my arse, caused by matt rear ending me...

[anthony_r6]

I doubt it. The police do charge £150 to recover and something like £20 a day storage (can't remember if it's that much.) You do have to pay it before they release it though.
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Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[multijoy]

They don't normally charge if the police demand that it be recovered for forensics. I'd write a letter to the force about that. That said, if you make an insurance claim for it, I'd be surprised if that's not covered.

FWIW, if you do report a vehicle stolen, you can tell the police not to recover it and you'll do it at your own expense. I know the Met now ask as a matter of course, it'll probably catch on elsewhere.
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'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[plugger147]

Been reading loads of conflicting info though, some people saying that you shouldn't be charged if it's been taken for evidence when you could have recovered it yourself quicker and easier. I was hoping someone here would have a bit of knowledge on it or give me an idea of where to start looking for info.
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Tristan the wrote: just whipped off my trousers to find a big bruise on my arse, caused by matt rear ending me...

[Raffles]

I'm convinced that the police insist on recovering vehicles for ''forensic testing'' for the simple reason that they receive a back hander from the recovery cowboys.
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A good loser will always be a loser.

[plugger147]

Thats a bit of a problem multi, the bikes not run properly since they got it and as such hadn't been insured yet. I'm thinking the letter is the way to go although the police have been less helpful than the recovery company who have put a freeze on storage charges for now.
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Tristan the wrote: just whipped off my trousers to find a big bruise on my arse, caused by matt rear ending me...

[multijoy]

There's no hard and fast rule, a lot of it is down to individual force policy.

However, the general rule of thumb is that if they seize it as evidence, they pay for it - if you've told them that you can recover it yourselves and they've overruled you, it would be entirely unreasonable for you to bear that burden.

To be honest, you're best off speaking with the force. Try speaking to the supervisor of whichever officer authorised the recovery - best bet would be to ask for the duty officer at whichever station he's based out of.
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'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[plugger147]

It was a c.i.d officer dealing with it for some reason, he's a bit of an arse will get onto my sis tomorrow and get her to speak him.
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Tristan the wrote: just whipped off my trousers to find a big bruise on my arse, caused by matt rear ending me...

[Rogerborg]

Keep it simple:

You chose to take it away after I asked you not to. Give it back, now, or give it back later and pay my legal fees. That's your choice too.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Babba]

I used to work on the Police recovery contract & this one used to crop up quite frequently.

If the legitimate owner asked for the return of the bike & they were at the scene where the bike was found before it was recovered, then you shouldn't have to pay if it was recovered solely for forensics.

Not everyone in the Police force will know & understand this.

Ideally, you need to speak to the force's recovery liaison officer who is just about the only officer who will know this. Failing that, you're going to have a hard time getting it released F.O.C. & you'll need to get a Solicitor involved.

You don't have to surrender a stolen vehicle for forensics but it does have to be the legitimate owner who requested the return before it was seized, otherwise the seizure is the same as any other stolen/recovered vehicle.