Abandoned Car

[trel]

There is a car in my area that has been abandoned. I see it there everyday, it's been there for about 1 month now. Council has put a sticker on it advising if it is not collected it will be towed.

Whats the go with things like this? I wouldn't mind taking this car... Can I just take it considering it's been there so long?

What do you guys think?

[GTR-N1]

Even if my daily was stolen and then abandoned, I'd like to know where it is (in case there are receipts inside from a red-light area)

A neighbour up the street has about 20 abandoned cars in his backyard. He's going into a nursing home. Would you like those too?

[Sticky]

think of it this way, if you take it - the owner could say you were stealing it.

[mad082]

just wait until it gets taken to the council auctions and go buy it. my brother in law bought an 80's model corona (rwd one) for $100 at the council auctions, and it only got up to that much because it had a celica 5spd in it and there was a guy from the wreckers there bidding on it as well.

[**RB2530**]

If you just take it you are guilty of 'steal by finding' and 'goods in custody'....

Not to mention the fact that it may have been involved in crime and just dumped...could be stolen...

I wouldn't go near it...

[syfon]

Just take the cars to a scrap yard, get $100 per car and you make some quick money

[madbung]

If you just take it you are guilty of 'steal by finding' and 'goods in custody'....

Not to mention the fact that it may have been involved in crime and just dumped...could be stolen...

I wouldn't go near it...

Haha...you must be a lawyer.

"steal by finding" Wouldn't that be just normal theft? regardless of whether the last registered owner or council claims possesion (after the nominal tow grace period).

"goods in custody"?? Is that a distant cousin to "being in possesion of stolen property"

OP if you want the car do as suggested and wait for the council auction or place your own note on the car, I'm sure if the owner see's it he'd prefer $ from you than no car and a possible fine from the council. If someone does respond check licenses and rego papers ect to cover yourself before taking possesion.

[**RB2530**]

Haha...you must be a lawyer.

"steal by finding" Wouldn't that be just normal theft? regardless of whether the last registered owner or council claims possesion (after the nominal tow grace period).

"goods in custody"?? Is that a distant cousin to "being in possesion of stolen property"

OP if you want the car do as suggested and wait for the council auction or place your own note on the car, I'm sure if the owner see's it he'd prefer $ from you than no car and a possible fine from the council. If someone does respond check licenses and rego papers ect to cover yourself before taking possesion.

It would be 'steal by finding' if the car is unlocked and the keys are in the ignition. I suppose if you break into the car or hotwire it you are breaching or breaking items that are intended to stop you taking the car in the first place, so you are stealing...

People mostly get done for 'steal by finding' through finding money or a bicycle etc etc and not handing it in to the police...'goods in custody' is simply the old term for possessing stolen property...I thought it was also current term but I could be wrong...

[trel]

How is it stealing? The thing has been there for ages collecting leaves. Obviously this original owner doesn't want it. If it was reported stolen it would of been found by now. It's not in a secluded spot. The police drive down this road all the time. Had it been stolen, it would be recovered by now.

Anyway, i just called vic roads, they will ring me back in the next 30 to 45 with an answer as even they are not sure on this. Will let you know of the outcome.

Cheers.

[mad082]

how do you know that the car didn't just break down, and the owner hopped out and then got hit by a car and is lying in hospital right now but plans to go collect the car as soon as he is able? that is why it is stealing

[scathing]

How is it stealing? The thing has been there for ages collecting leaves.

If you take something without the owner's explicit permission, that's the definition of theft. Government bodies have legislative exceptions (such as towing a vehicle they believe is abandoned) but a private citizen has diddly squat.

Hypothetically, if I leave my car out front of my place (or a mate's place) when I go on holidays, does that mean you can take it because I'm not there to "claim" it?

I haven't driven my "weekend" car for several weeks since I'm running in the motor on my other car. It's got a coat of dust on it, and a fair amount of flower petals/leaves on it. I can't say I go check on it every day. Does that mean you can pop around to my place and take it because you think I don't want it?

Finding something and not returning it is still theft. If you leave your mobile in a restaurant and I pick it up, if you find out I took it afterwards you're well within your rights to demand I return it.

Obviously this original owner doesn't want it.

And if the guy turns around later and comes back for it? You've got no title on it. Leaving something alone for any period of time doesn't remove ownership.

If you decide to part it out, then there's no evidence on what was in the car originally and it's up to the registered owner to make up a value for the car. The registered owner's word against someone who took property without permission, and then stripped it down.

What if there's still money oweing on it? If the bank repossesses it, you'd have sweet f**k-all chance of fighting it even if you did actually buy the vehicle off the previous owner and have the paperwork in your name.

What do you guys think?

I think you should get some class. Assuming the car has been voluntarily "discarded" by the existing owner, it makes you sound like the kind of person who goes searching through rubbish bins.

[PM-R33]

lol out of curiousity what kind of car is it?

[MUZT3K]

so does that mean if someone throws out some for example furniture on the footpath for people to collect does that mean you can still get done?

[sneakey pete]

so does that mean if someone throws out some for example furniture on the footpath for people to collect does that mean you can still get done?

Well, you ahve to remember that the legal system does have humans in it with common sense. I'm pretty sure that they could still charge you with steeling though.

[GTR-N1]

so does that mean if someone throws out some for example furniture on the footpath for people to collect does that mean you can still get done?

You make more money by turning the lounge upside-down and picking up the loose change!

[madbung]

so does that mean if someone throws out some for example furniture on the footpath for people to collect does that mean you can still get done?

Anthing placed on the footpath for hard collection day is the property of the company contracted to remove said rubish by the council.

People get fined all the time for taking hard waste from the nature strip.

I still love hard waste day although I'm almost continuously running into the back of the car infront while I scan the footpaths for old audio gear.

[trel]

If you take something without the owner's explicit permission, that's the definition of theft. Government bodies have legislative exceptions (such as towing a vehicle they believe is abandoned) but a private citizen has diddly squat.

Hypothetically, if I leave my car out front of my place (or a mate's place) when I go on holidays, does that mean you can take it because I'm not there to "claim" it?

I haven't driven my "weekend" car for several weeks since I'm running in the motor on my other car. It's got a coat of dust on it, and a fair amount of flower petals/leaves on it. I can't say I go check on it every day. Does that mean you can pop around to my place and take it because you think I don't want it?

Finding something and not returning it is still theft. If you leave your mobile in a restaurant and I pick it up, if you find out I took it afterwards you're well within your rights to demand I return it.

And if the guy turns around later and comes back for it? You've got no title on it. Leaving something alone for any period of time doesn't remove ownership.

If you decide to part it out, then there's no evidence on what was in the car originally and it's up to the registered owner to make up a value for the car. The registered owner's word against someone who took property without permission, and then stripped it down.

What if there's still money oweing on it? If the bank repossesses it, you'd have sweet f**k-all chance of fighting it even if you did actually buy the vehicle off the previous owner and have the paperwork in your name.

I think you should get some class. Assuming the car has been voluntarily "discarded" by the existing owner, it makes you sound like the kind of person who goes searching through rubbish bins.

Mate, my question was legitimate. The car is a 75 Fairlane, where do you see these everyday? Hence, why I asked the question, you make me out to sound as if I'm some sort of bum rummaging through rubbish.

Oh, thats right I have no class and nothing better to do than take abandoned cars off the street. I have no way of finding out who the owner of the vehicle is, I did eventually find out that the council will take it, and give it to pick-a-part, and guess what after 30 days, pick-a-part will own it. Then it will be stripped into parts and a nice car wrecked.

So does the council lack class too for taking rubbish?

Lighten up bud, I didn't ask a question to be flamed.

[910trx]

we had a car dumped at our old workshop carpark, cops said it is not claimed stolen and we asked council to move it and they said its on your land so its your issue.

so we fired up the land cruiser and dragged it out onto the street.

Council put a notice on it and it sat for 3 weeks in a no parking zone causing lots of peakhour chaos.

Young lad at work showed up late at night and towed the car to his place and later notified the cops, the cops said hang on a min...

contacted the owner and they came to pick it up

relevant? - hardly any really, just talking shit as usual.

but even though the car appeared abandoned for several weeks, it still had a registered owner.

my advice is dont touch it untill you have gained authority to do so.

the young lad wasn't charged or anything but i dare say he had a bit of a stern talking to

75 Fairlane? nice!

Edited September 17, 2009 by 910trx

[iseekool]

I guess best ask the council/cops.

Just out of curiosity does it still have the number plates?

[gotRICE?]

Happened to me once too.

Was a few years back, a mint 85 Corolla GT. Sat unused for 7 months in my street. So i started to investigate. Couldnt get name or number from the reg. But noticed the ignition barrel and locks were smashed to shit. Assumed Stolen.

So i opened the door and found a parking ticket. Whallah. The address, a few doors down from my house. I casually went over and introduced myself and asked about the car.

Lady asked if i wanted it, offered her $200 and it was mine. She basically stopped driving it when the battery died. (hence broken ignition, but car still there.. stupid thieves)

Few days later, new clutch/batter/polish/oil change/locks/ignition, it was one of the nicest Corolla GT's in town. Sold it a few months later for a little over $2000. Cost me under $500 all up.

Thought id add my story.. i didnt read through the whole post, but have you tried finding the owner yourself? You might miss out