Homeowner helpless as car is dumped on drive
A BIRMINGHAM homeowner has spoken of her frustration after a car was dumped on her driveway near the airport – but she’s powerless to move it.
Debbie Flynn and her partner Leon woke up to discover the silver Vauxhall Mokka next to her garage off Outmore Road, Garrett’s Green – neighbouring Birmingham International Airport.
Miss Flynn called West Midlands Police, who confirmed the Vauxhall is not stolen but said they are powerless to move it as it is a civil rather than criminal matter.
As the house is within a few minutes of Birmingham Airport, Miss Flynn believes her drive has been rented to a holidaymaker through a parking app by fraudsters.
She said: “It’s like the car just dropped out of the sky. It’s a complete mystery.
“We don’t understand how or why this has happened but as the owner hasn’t returned all week, we suspect it’s due to someone selling a space on my drive close to the airport. We went
to bed about 10.30pm last Tuesday and when my partner woke the next morning, it was parked on our drive.
“They opened my gate and parked it and shut the gate after leaving it on the grass.
“The police officer who came to see
us said he had never seen anything like this in all his years.
“I am fuming because there is no law to stop anyone parking on your drive.
“It’s totally legal so the police can’t help. Yet if we try and move it and damage it, then we would have committed a criminal offence.”
Because a car driveway is part of a property, someone parking on your drive technically counts as trespass, which is a civil offence and not criminal, explained John Charnock, of Stress Free Car Rental.
He also said that if a car has up-todate MOT, tax, insurance and is not in a position where it could cause danger to anyone around, the council is also powerless to move it.
Miss Flynn has now chained up the wheel so when the driver returns, they will have to knock on her door and explain why they parked there.
“Police said there are parking apps used by scammers who advertise unsuspecting people’s drives as spaces and charge the car owners a fee,” said Miss Flynn.
“I want answers – when, how, why and who did you pay? We just have to sit and wait for the owners to return.
“It’s an absolute joke. I’m furious and disgusted that any Tom, Dick and Harry can park on your drive and you can’t do a thing about it.”