Woman says Manitou Springs Police found her stolen car, then wrongfully towed it and stuck her with bill

MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- A Colorado Springs woman says a local police department is holding her car hostage. Sara Shelby says the car was wrongfully towed, after being abandoned by thieves, but she still needs to pay to get it out of an impound lot.

"I will come and pick it up, I just want my car back," Shelby pleads.

Shelby says that in the last two weeks her car has been stolen not just once, but twice.

Two weeks ago after a trip to the Chapel Hills Mall, her car was reported stolen. She and her husband share a 2003 Honda Accord.

"We walked up and down the aisles a couple of times, and we're standing in an empty spot going, 'The car was right here, it was right here.'"

That car was the only way they could both get to work.

On Tuesday though, she got a call from someone with the Manitou Springs Police. Her car had been found. But the police department had it towed to a private lot.

Now, Shelby says the private towing company wants to charge her nearly $500 to get it back.

"I called Manitou Springs Police back right away. I'm like, 'This is insane. I've never heard of such a thing,' and they're like, 'Well, if we had a city impound, that would be different. We don't have a city impound. It's a private lot.'"

Shelby claims the police agreed to cover some of the fees, but she'd have to pick the car up right then and there. That's something she says she couldn't do. The tow company's hours are from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.

"I work in health care. We're busy. I can't just leave the hospital in the middle of the day."

So her car now sits in the impound lot, where she's not even sure what condition it's in at this point.

A Manitou Springs Police spokesperson told KRDO it is aware of the situation and is still investigating it. The spokesperson added the department is working towards some kind of resolution.

But in Shelby's eyes, there's only one acceptable outcome.

"I feel like you gave it to somebody who's holding it ransom, that I can't have it back. I just want my car back."