Evening all, will try and keep this as succinct as possible;

My classic was stolen 6 years ago, I didn't claim on insurance and put it down to experience, however now and again I would check online to see if it appeared anywhere and yesterday noticed that it had a new V5 issued in July 2021, contacted the police who have now picked up the car from wherever it was and it is with them.

They are now saying they have to 'sort out ownership'. Apparently been bought and sold a couple of times in the last 6 years despite being on the stolen car register,

Should I be concerned or it it just a formality that it will be returned to myself

Many Thanks

Rosco

Don't depend on it being a formality. As it has passed through several hands since it was stolen nothing is automatic.
Ensure that you have registered a claim on it with the police. John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

You are the original owner, presume you still have the old registration documents.

Presume you reported it to the Police at that time, if so they contact DVLA on your behalf and tell them its stolen.
If thats so, you will have a crime report number lodged somewhere in the system.

if both above is the case then it should be straight forward. 2018 SE SDV8 4.4 Byron Blue

Thanks chaps, I have V5, all keys etc. I reported it stolen originally and it was investigated by the police at the time and they put the stolen mark against it, probably overthinking this one

I am keen to get it back, was one of the last classics off the line, registered 1995 and is in silver which is also rare, I had all the rust removed/repaired, inner wings. boot floor, everywhere !!, so it 'was' a solid car, be interesting to see how it is nowadays , pic as it left for restoration in 2014

Good luck Ross, i hope all turns out well for you sir...

Amazing that you’ve found it by just checking when it had a logbook last issued!

You’d think that if there was a logbook issued on a stolen car it would automatically flag with the police if they had it recorded as stolen.

Be a great story to get it back after 6 years though! Hopefully it’s not been destroyed!

Got everything crossed that you get it back without any hassle.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

In a nut shell....you didnt claim on the insurance its still yours, police doing the formality bit for the paper work.
Glad you found it....I was not so lucky when my 90 CSW was stolen many years back.
keep us posted too.

(ps, hows the orses doing? ) If it dont work.......burn it!

If the IId tool cant fix it.......burn the FF.

If the FF cant be fixed......buy a Land Cruiser!

If the LC cant be fixed..............................................BUY a horse !!

Amazing news, can't wait to hear the next instalment.

. Cheers, Greg
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

So an update, Police have washed their hands of it and their legal department have said I need to resolve ownership with the 'innocent buyer' within 2 months, he has instructed a solicitor and I have done likewise, my solicitor is at a loss to understand why they think they have ownership but time will tell.

The reality of modern policing

What could the police do if you just turned up and used your keys to 'STEAL' it back ? after all, you could not be prosecuted for 'stealing' your own property. Plus, the minute someone tried to get a new logbook, plod should have arrived on their doorstep, to investigate the theft.

Hope the outcome changes soon.

I agree
Having the original docs, reported to the police and having the crime number, also the car was marked as stolen on the police register etc. Surely this also is flagged up with Insurance companies, MOT Tax etc etc leaves a huge paper trail and evidence to home in on the true villains here-- but guess it takes real detective work.

Its a huge failure in the Police and the DVLA system which is meant to catch exactly this sort of Fraud/Theft etc
So your solicitor cant really fail, you have done everything in your power so far, even tipping off the police and doing their work for them when a new document was requested and was it issued? would be another epic final DVLA failure.
Good luck 2018 SE SDV8 4.4 Byron Blue

I'm at a loss here. You have all the documentation & keys, you reported this to the police & they have all this on file. No insurance claim, then it's yours!.

Obviously the other person did not carryout any pre history checks prior to purchasing - Buyer beware!.

Hopefully it will be back in your possession soon

Jesus wept, so can you in turn get done for taking back your stolen property? That's utter madness..

@Rosco,

If you haven't seen this I wonder if it might help you to progress recovery?

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland...-goods-s1/

The caveat about cars doesn't apply as you did not declare it to your insurance company.

Your solicitors should already be aware of the above but might help you to push them along.

I might be inclined to recover the vehicle as the present possessors have no legal right to retain it. Their recourse is to whoever sold it to them. I suspect long gone. John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold