Mustang Coupe

Make
Ford
Segment
Coupe

It's always important to find a skilled and trustworthy car mechanic, especially so if that vehicle's factory warranty has expired. Regular wear and tear can also lead to additional issues that must be addressed. Makes sense, right? Of course. And that's exactly what a Trenton, New Jersey man did regarding his 1996 Ford Mustang. Thing is, he brought his Mustang to his "trusted" mechanic five to seven years ago and hasn't seen it since.

According to The Morning Sun, a Trenton, New Jersey man, aged 83 and his wife, 82, reported their Ford Mustang stolen late last month to the local police department. The mechanic never returned the car despite the owners' repeated attempts to make contact with him. They haven't heard from him since.

The elderly owner also claimed the mechanic charged his credit card for parts not long after the supposed maintenance began. His wife said she tried calling the guy and even sent certified mail to his house but never received a response. She recently went to the mechanic's house and spoke with his son, who promised his father would call her. It never happened.

The woman also spoke to another of the mechanic's relatives who promised her the same thing. Police checked their database and confirmed the mechanic does indeed live at the address provided by the couple. Based on the evidence provided, police have entered the Mustang as stolen in their system. Okay, so it's pretty clear the mechanic is a crook who not only kept the Mustang but also stole money via the credit card charge for the parts.

What was so special about the car that made the mechanic decide not to return it? As far as we know, it was a regular '96 Mustang. But here are two lingering questions: Why did it take this long for the now elderly couple to file a police report? Has it been five or seven years since this all began?

No car that's not undergoing a major restoration takes five to seven years to fix. Our guess is that they were trying to be nice about the whole ordeal and had hoped to resolve the matter without getting the police involved. But unless the mechanic, who's also now elderly at age 79, offers a good reason for not fixing and returning the vehicle in a timely fashion, he ought to be charged for car theft.