A car owner has complained that traffic police failed to return his car to him for more than three months after recovering it from a car thief.

They claimed that only after ten lost cars are recovered, can they return them to their original owners all at the same time.

This supposed regulation or ruling has triggered doubt and generated a lot of criticizm among netizens. Many are sceptical and suspicious of the reasoning behind holding a citizen's car for so long.

A commentary in the 'Beijing Youth Daily' says the police are responsible for the mistrust between them and the public.

It notes that the police offered a useless and incomprehensible justification for holding onto the vehicle. The newspaper points out the police should have given the car owner a genuine reason to eliminate any doubts he may have had. Moreover, it indicates that the police ignored the needs of the car owner, allowing misunderstanding and mistrust to grow among the public.

In conclusion, the newspaper says it's time for the police to heighten their sense of public service both for the sake of citizens and themselves.