When is stolen really stolen?

Sadly, the process of verifying ownership at Southerton police station has traditionally been something of a nightmare largely because the data logging system was created when Fred Flintstone graduated from a car made of rocks to one made of metal.
We will not go into the business of inducements at this stage, but they too are very much part of the scenery and are sufficiently prevalent for other police authorities to question the veracity of any certificate of ownership emanating from north of the Limpopo.
For now though, let us pretend that “your” police issued clearance certificate really is kosher and that your name and all relevant details have been entered correctly. We will also pretend that your name is Cornelius Dube, born September 10, 1969 and that the proof of legitimacy was issued on February 1, 2009.
Six months and one day after the issue of the clearance, the self-same Dube born on September 10 1969 attempts to cross Beit Bridge having waited in a disorganised queue for six hours or so. He then gets to the customs desk where his car papers are “scrutinised” and found to be out of order because the police clearance certificate is older than six months.
Needless to say, Dube will have blown a fuse of his own and for good reason. If he was the legitimate owner of the car on February 1, and he was still the owner of the self-same car on August 2, how can the authenticity of his ownership be denied by the mere passage of six months, and critically, one day?
It is utter nonsense to put a time limit on such a document, at least for the duration of ownership by the same person who proved right of ownership in the first place. The vehicle simply cannot become stolen property if it is still in the original owner’s hands no matter how many years have gone by. Or have I missed something? Answers and explanations will be gratefully received!
On the subject of car thefts, I was reminded of a story concerning the theft of a Porsche 911 Carrera from a “permit only” street parking space in West London. Because the parking spaces were controlled by permit, the same cars were using the same street day after day, thus creating a pattern of movement easily noted by crooks.
The movements of the Porsche owner were carefully logged over time and it became apparent that once the sleek coupe had been switched off, he would never be seen again before the lunch hour at the earliest.
So, our intrepid and apparently brainy crooks went off to a van hire company, got themselves a white van with loading ramps and then headed for a vinyl signwriting company.  Here, they ordered a full set of official Porsche dealer decals and affixed them to the sides of their hired steed, which they then used to visit a tool hire company who provided a large trolley jack for their use.
Next morning, the “Porsche dealer” van stopped alongside the 911 parked in its familiar Kensington spot and out of it alighted three or four “mechanics” now wearing overalls featuring the Porsche typescript.
Of course, the subject of their desire was locked and the handbrake applied, but out came the trolley jack and up went the sportscar which was then dragged up the ramps into the van, still firmly locked.
Passers-by took no notice at all given the apparent authenticity of the van and its occupants. It was only hours later that the legitimate owner suffered near cardiac arrest when he discovered his pride and joy had vanished.
Some months later, a lead emerged from a Porsche dealer in Holland who had been offered a near-new 3,2 litre 911 engine.  Through the then new computer network, which Porsche dealers employed well ahead of most of the industry, the origin of the car was worked out and a trap was laid in Belgium, which netted one of the perpetrators and provided the information for this story.
Frankfurt Motor Show
I will be in Germany’s finance capital for the Frankfurt Show press days on Tuesday and Wednesday next week so I am afraid there will be no Top Gear for you to indulge in on 17 September, but look out for a hands-on report from the world’s biggest motor show in the following week.   Despite all the gloom and doom surrounding the motor industry, early reports indicate that Frankfurt will have lots to drool over aside from foaming German lagers, bratwurst and sauerkraut.