Stranger Leaves Car On Family's Driveway Near Airport For Days
A man was shocked to wake up one morning to find a complete stranger had decided to park on his driveway - and it wasn’t just for a few hours, either.
The homeowner, who lives near Manchester Airport, said the vehicle was there for four days.
Zekarias Haile, 51, said the car was left by holidaymakers who didn’t want to fork out for the expensive parking at the nearby airport.
Engineering lecturer Haile, who lives with his wife and two children in Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe, said the car was parked in such a way it restricted access to their garden and bins.
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He told the Manchester Evening News: “I just went out and it was there. Then it was there Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. On Monday morning when we woke up it was gone.”
After first seeing the car, Haile called police but, rather frustratingly, was told there was nothing they could do as his own car - which was parked on the road - wasn’t being blocked in.
Haile said: “I was very angry but I resisted doing anything to the car - just. I definitely didn’t feel all right about it. We couldn’t access our garden and we couldn’t take out our bins."
Haile has lived in Wythenshawe for 14 years and says rogue parking companies are known to work in the area and he believes it's one of these that is responsible.
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He added: “A lady who was out the front when it was left told me the driver was wearing a high-viz jacket so I do believe it was one of those companies.
"My worry now is that, because I couldn’t do anything about it, it will happen again.
“There are rogue parking firms who claim they are meet and greet and they just park in our area. It’s a violation of my private property.”
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson confirmed the matter was not a criminal offence but that the homeowners could approach the council and take civil action.
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A spokesperson for Manchester Airport said: "As well as our own wide range of products, there are many reputable operators that serve Manchester Airport.
"We categorically do not condone the practices of rogue operators, including those that falsely imply customers’ cars will be parked in secure locations and whose activities blight surrounding communities.
"We have worked closely with council trading standards teams and Greater Manchester Police over many years to combat this, and speak regularly with local councillors and residents about their concerns.
"As passenger numbers continue to increase in the wake of the pandemic we will maintain our position on this, working closely with Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police."
Claire Reid