A COUPLE tried to park in their garage when they discovered an abandoned SUV restricting access – it was almost buried in the bushes.
His neighbor also reported the SUV to the police, but nothing happened.
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Norma Robles tried to park her and her husband’s car in their garage in Denver, Colorado, one day last October when they discovered a teal Ford Explorer SUV from the early 1990s blocking their gate.
The car was covered in several layers of dust and dirt, and the weeds had hidden the car almost perfectly.
“That’s the garage, so you can’t see it because there are so many weeds,” she told the NBC affiliate. KUSA.
She said she was trying to get someone to cut the weeds to make removal easier, but no one took the job because of the vehicle.
Read more about abandoned cars
“I’m trying to get someone here to cut the weeds, but I can’t with this thing in the way,” she said.
When the couple looked inside, there were plumbing materials scattered across the back seats and the stereo was on the floor, leading them to think it had been stolen.
She called the city’s 311 number to report the vehicle and called the non-emergency line to report the vehicle.
His neighbor, Randy Redd, also reported the vehicle to the 311 abandoned vehicle hotline.
He said he also had no response.
“We called 311 ourselves, we just let them know we saw this too and left a message a couple of times, and we didn’t get a response from them either,” he said.
Ten months later, the vehicle is still blocking his driveway.
Last month, she called 311 again and a dispatcher told her to call the city’s Right of Way Enforcement Dispatch and report the vehicle.
An agency spokesperson told reporters that an inspector visited the site on June 11 and said he had not seen the Explorer.
That’s when Robles reached out to KUSA investigators.
Consumer Investigator Steve Steager called the department again, requesting another inspector visit the property.
How to report an abandoned car
Reporting an abandoned vehicle is important to keep city streets safe and clean
An abandoned car is not only an eyesore, but also a danger to the surrounding community, as pests and rodents can take refuge inside, in the engine compartment or in the trunk.
Leaking fluids can be dangerous to the environment, as many vehicle fluids are toxic and can wreak havoc on ecosystems if they enter waterways.
They can also encourage crime, with several cities like Oakland, California, reporting that drug dealers can use them to hide and steal drugs or weapons.
Abandoned vehicles can also decrease property values.
So they are worth it. The specific contact information for your city’s abandoned car hotline may vary, but the required vehicle information is the same.
When reporting an abandoned vehicle, the police will need:
- The exact address of the vehicle
- Steering column information (broken, missing, intact, etc.)
- Vehicle condition (severely damaged, broken windows, leaking fluids, missing body panels or doors, etc.)
- Brand and model
- Color
- Body style (pickup, SUV, sedan, etc.)
- License plate number and state, if applicable
- VIN
Many cities will allow residents to report abandoned vehicles online via an online form or through an online form.
Source: ABC affiliate WPVI-TV
When the investigator spotted the SUV, they quickly called a tow truck.
The tow truck driver took the Explorer to a street parking spot and told Steager they would report the vehicle as abandoned to the Sheriff’s Department.
Then, they said, it would be towed and seized on city land.
Nancy Kuhn of the city’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure told reporters that Robels followed best procedure by calling 311 — and typically residents don’t have to wait months to see a vehicle removed.
She confirmed that a DOTI agent would visit the location of an abandoned car, confirm it, and report it to the Sheriff’s Department for handling and processing.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
