[jboy55]

A long time ago I was in a relationship where my SO took my car and refused to give it back. I called the police to report it stolen and they said that since I had lent the car to her in the past, this was a case of someone not abiding by an agreement, and it was a civil matter and I would need to retrieve the car or a PI would. This was California, so other states probably have different laws, but I would have to think for a major corporation this should be in civil court first.

[gamblor956]

The police gave you bad information.

California law does not have any sort of "prior use" exception to theft laws. Letting someone use a car in the past does not give them cart blanche to borrow it again without permission in the future.

You ex stole your car. If they police did not do anything, the proper response would be to take your complaint of inaction to Internal Affairs or your local elected representative. And then to take the car back yourself, or to hire a PI to retrieve the car or a lawyer to issue a demand letter for the return of the car.

[dsfyu404ed]

If you know where your stolen property is your best way to get it back is to let the police know you're on your way to get it back. They tend to react to that because while they DGAF about stolen property they really don't like what it would look like if "serious violence" ensued from them not acting.

[FateOfNations]

California even has a special "taken without consent" (i.e. joyriding) law for cars where you don't even have to prove the "permanently deprive" part that proving theft normally entails.

[g_sch]

I think your story carries an unspoken assumption that the police understood and/or cared about the law. I wouldn't be too sure that's the case.