Holidaymaker leaves car on family’s driveway for FIVE DAYS after space was ‘sold through a parking app by fraudsters’ – and they are powerless to move it
- Debbie Flynn and partner Leon woke up to a silver Vauxhall Mokka next to her garage off Outmore Road, Garretts Green, neighbouring Birmingham Airport
- The baffled mother-of-two called police who said they are powerless to move it
- She believes fraudsters sold the parking space through an app to holidaymakers
A mother-of-two has been left with a mystery car on her driveway without being able to remove it after she claims fraudsters sold the parking space to holidaymakers flying from the nearby airport.
Debbie Flynn and her partner Leon woke up to discover the silver Vauxhall Mokka next to her garage off Outmore Road, Garretts Green, which neighbours Birmingham International Airport.
Baffled Debbie called West Midlands Police, who confirmed that the Vauxhall was not stolen, but added that they are powerless to move it as it’s a civil matter rather than a than criminal one.
As the house is within five miles of Birmingham Airport, Debbie believes her drive has been sold to a holidaymaker through a parking app by fraudsters.
Debbie 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.’
Mother-of-two Debbie Flynn was left with a silver Vauxhall Mokka (left) next to her garage off Outmore Road, Garretts Green, on her driveway without being able to remove it after she claims fraudsters sold the parking space to holidaymakers flying from the nearby airport
‘We went to bed about 10.30pm on Tuesday night [April 12] and when my partner woke the next morning, it was parked on our drive,’ Ms Flynn added.
‘The cheeky g**s opened my gate and parked it and shut the gates 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.
‘The kids can’t even play outside on the drive now, in case they kick a ball or something and accidentally damage it.’
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.
Ms Flynn called West Midlands Police, who confirmed that the Vauxhall was not stolen, but added that they are powerless to move it as it’s a civil matter rather than a than criminal one. As the house is within five miles of Birmingham Airport (pictured), Debbie believes her drive has been sold to a holidaymaker through a parking app by fraudsters
If a car has up-to-date 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, he added.
Debbie has put out an appeal on Facebook but no-one has come forward.
She has chained up the tyre so if and 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 parking spaces and charge the car owners a fee,’ said Debbie.
‘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.’
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