My neighbor had recently had his car stolen, and there had been a number of other car thefts（偷盗案）reported in the local 1, so although I was shocked, I was not too surprised when I discovered that my own car was missing on that dark 2 morning.
As I live in a block of flats with no garage facilities（监控设备）, I have to leave my car in the street to keep it 3. I try to park it for the night as near my flat as possible. Until quite recently there was always plenty of parking everywhere and I was able to leave the car – a grey Mini car – just outside my flat. 4 the place was public, I looked upon it as being my own.
That cold morning as I stood on the quiet street very early, 5 in hand, ready to get into my car, I found myself staring into the empty space. The car had gone. I remembered parking it there the night before on returning from the club up the hill. I walked up and down the street 6 it with growing worries. It was nowhere to be seen. I hurried back to the place and saw a patch（一小块地） of 7 ground, exactly the 8 of my Mini, which proved without doubt that it had been there during the night and been taken in the early hours when the heavy snow stopped.
I 9 the police at once. After hearing my words on the phone, they said they would report back the moment they had any 10. I found the phone ringing on my return home from work, I 11 to pick up the phone receiver.
"455-0961. Roger Woods 12."
"Oh, Mr Woods, local police station here. You reported a car missing in the morning, car number PYT 511F?"
"Yes, that's right. Has it been 13?"
"Yes, it has. Parked on the main road. Almost the next door to your flat. Are you sure you didn't leave it there yourself?"
To be 14, I didn't want to say yes.
"Well, I understand," the policeman said 15, "I'm sorry, sir, your car was parked on yellow lines, and I'm afraid that you'll have a parking fine（罚金） to pay."
