A fly-tipper took the wheels off their car in a bid to stop it being seized by police.
Environmental health chiefs and police in South Derbyshire has been tracking down vehicles used in a fly-tipping offence.
But when they swooped to seize one of the vehicles – a black Volkswagen Passat – the owner took umbridge.
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And, in a desperate bid to stop their motor being hauled away, they removed the wheels.
Their efforts proved futile, though, when police simply reattached them and rolled the car onto a recovery truck.
A Melbourne Safer Neighbourhood Team spokesperson said: “South Derbyshire District Council Environmental Health Team (EHT) and your local Safer neighbourhoods team (SNT) have been working together following our beautiful rural areas being used as dumping grounds by unlicensed fly tippers.
“EHT have tracked down the vehicles used in these offences and along with SNT paid the keepers a little vist where the vehicles were swiftly seized.
“One of the vehicle owners tried to prevent the team removing the vehicle by taking the wheels off. Outcome – the wheels were put back on and the vehicle seized.
“The other owner was making so many excuses as to why their vehicle could not be seized. Outcome – talking mullock; vehicle seized.
“Vehicle owners will now be prosecuted by the EHT.”
Police have not revealed exactly where in the district the vehicles seized or where the fly-tipping took place.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 S34b allows police to seize a vehicle, trailer or mobile plant if it is used in fly-tipping; driven by somebody who is not a registered waste carrier; used to move waste to somebody who is not a registered waste carrier; or used at a site that is breaking the rules of an environmental permit.
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