Why was I not called? I reported my car stolen and signed an official slip of paper saying I would meet the police at the location they found it within 20 minutes so it wouldn’t be impounded. So why wasn’t I called when it was discovered a day later? Why did I have to pay to get my stolen car back if I followed all the necessary steps? I parked my car in a valid parking spot on the night of Dec. 6th, only to find it gone the next morning. My car was stolen. A San Francisco cop came out and took down my statement. He was especially respectful and kind. He gave me a piece of paper and explained to me that if I signed it I would have exactly 20 minutes to meet the cops at the location of where my car was found. If I was to be even a minute late they would tow it to the auto return and I would have to pay the fine. I signed the paper expecting it to all work out this way. The officer told me specifically to call them if I saw my car on the street, and not just start driving it. He said my case would be in the system within the next hour.
Hoping to get a call at anytime and wanting to avoid my car being impounded, I went out of my way to change my plans to keep my days free. I had multiple commitments to people as a soccer coach all over the bay area. I couldn’t honor them and be ready at a moment’s notice, so I had to cancel the practice of my teams and players in order to be available to pick up my car in the specified 20 minutes. I stayed in San Francisco for two days waiting and hoping for the call.
Finally I got the call at 9:44pm on Dec. 8th, stating I was to report to the nearest police station to get my car out of the system, so they wouldn’t pull me over at gun point if I was driving it. At the police station, I was told to take that paper to the Auto Return to retrieve my car. Once I got there, the kind lady behind the thick glass said my car was taken to their other lot at Pier 70, and that they were closed at that time. The only way I was going to be able to get my car back was by paying the towing fee, which came to $392.75. That was only if I paid that night! If I waited to pay the price would go up. I paid. I had to wait another ten hours to actually get my car back after paying the fee.
I finally got my car to find there was a parking ticket issued at 5:41pm, on the day I got the call at 9:44pm telling me I was to report to the nearest police station. Why didn’t the ticket officer notice that it was a stolen car? Why wasn’t I notified immediately? Where was my call enabling me to get there within the specified 20 minutes? I was in San Francisco at that time; I was available by my cell phone 24-7. I had my phone on extremely loud while I was sleeping, in order to take the call. I feel like I have been victimized and violated not only by the theft, by the San Francisco police system. I was told I would get a call and I never did. This has cost me $392.75, the missed commitments, and the hassle of contesting the ticket I didn’t cause.
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