A 23-year-old mother, already reeling from the theft of her car with her baby inside, was hit with a $200 bill from the police to get her vehicle back.
Last Friday, the young mum parked her car and went into a dairy at the corner of Queen and Cameron streets in Waitara, Taranaki. That’s when a thief made off with her car, baby and all.
Desperate, she jumped into a bystander’s car, trying to chase down the crook. The thief recklessly drove on the footpath before dumping the baby on the roadside. The frantic mother found her 5-month-old baby on a grass berm. The relief was so overwhelming, she fainted, according to her father, Shane Young.
A distraught Young recounted the terrifying ordeal to the Herald on Tuesday evening, venting his frustration at the police. He claims they have done nothing to help his daughter, except slap her with a bill to retrieve her damaged car.
“It f***ing stinks! This girl has got nothing. The police have done nothing. All they’ve done is give my daughter a $200 bill to get her car from their f***ing yard,” he fumed.
“How do you think she’s feeling after this? She’s got no car, she only just got her phone back this morning. Her car’s been absolutely trashed…”
The police explained the cost: “The vehicle was initially towed and stored at a vehicle storage facility for forensic examination. Police paid for this, as is usual where forensic tow is required. Once the examination was complete, the victim was advised that her vehicle was ready to be collected. The vehicle was not drivable, and costs associated with towing and repair are the owner’s responsibility.”
While insurance could cover these fees, the woman reportedly has none.
Today, a 27-year-old New Plymouth woman appeared in court, charged with unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle. She did not enter a plea and was remanded on bail. Meanwhile, a second offender is still at large.
