WHEN Stuart McKay's car was pinched by a bloke posing as a potential buyer, he readily agreed to the police taking the car for forensic science investigation.

He was told there would be a charge, but the Blackburn motorist was happy to help the fight against crime -- until he found it would cost him £105 to get his car back.

That was the bill he got for storage and recovery costs.

Hell's bells, public spiritedness and co-operation with cops is one thing, but it's surely an excess when it costs the victim more than a ton in notes to do so.

But, say the police: "The matter has been dealt with under force policy and the money can be recovered from this man's insurance."

If that's force policy, it is testing the already much-strained likelihood of harassed motorists to do the police any favours thanks to their zero-tolerance, speed camera overkill.

And claiming the cost back on the insurance? Give over -- that just means kissing your no-claims bonus goodbye.

Are burglary victims billed like this when their goods are recovered and stored by the police or their agents?

No? Why, then should car owners be? The policy stinks.