AITA for reporting my car stolen when my sister took it after I told her not to?

A Redditor (M) offers their car to their sister after hers broke down, but she continues to misuse it and ignore boundaries. After warning her multiple times, the Redditor reports their car stolen when their sister takes it against their wishes. This results in her arrest and their parents bailing her out. Now, the Redditor wonders if they went too far by reporting her to the authorities. Read the full story below.

‘ AITA for reporting my car stolen when my sister took it after I told her not to?’

My sisters car broke down 6 months ago because of her own stupidity. I won’t go into it here but she ignored the advice of a mechanic and because of that her car broke. I decided to be nice and offer my sister my car until she could get hers fixed as i could bike to work while she needed to drive. She did not get her car fixed for some reason.

She claimed to be saving money to do so but every time her paycheck came she spent it. My parents have even offered her a loan to fix her car but she refused. Along with all of this, she has been abusing my generosity and taking my car all day and night.

I told her she could use it for work but is seems to her that is a free pass to use my car, not fill it with gas, and take it when I specifically tell her not to.. ​ Recently I’ve been needed to get to work very early and I really don’t feel like riding my bike 6 miles at 3 in the morning so I told my sister she had 30 days until I took the spare key from her and she is no longer allowed to use it.

That was 32 days ago. Yesterday morning she woke up specifically before me to take my car (at 2:30 in the morning). I called her and demanded she bring it back but she just hung up on me. because of this I reported it stolen.. ​

My sister was arrested 30 minutes later and my parents had to go bail her out. My sister is now facing charges for unauthorized use of a car and my parents and her are pissed. They claim I want way to far here but honestly, i feel justified. My parents are worried if she’s found guilty she will loose her job but in my opinion, it’s her own fault. Am i wrong here? Am i an a**hole?

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

[Reddit User] −  NTA, this is the definition of theft

ha3lo −  NTA. She stole your car. Sounds like she needs a lesson in accountability. Tell your parents you wouldn’t have had to report it stolen if she brought it back like you asked. Why is she not held to the same standard you are?

tickslike_clockwork −  NTA – you gave her 30 days notice so she had time to make other arrangements. She straight up got early to take your car on purpose so you did not have the ability to use it. Maybe reporting it as stolen was a little far. But I honestly don’t blame you for it. You gave her more than enough time and ultimately, it’s your car.

assertives −  NTA. She stole your car. Her actions were premeditated (coming over at 2.30am when she knew you would be leaving at 3am) and she deliberately hung up on you when you tried calling her. You even gave her 30 days notice. She had every intention to steal.

Blood_Mirror −  Harsh but fair

Westcoast976 −  NTA. Gave her 30 days and she also hung up on you. Justified. She shouldn’t get away with this she’s being immature

SeethingHeathen −  NTA. She literally stole your car.

LordJiraiya −  NTA. She stole your car after you specifically told her she couldn’t use it anymore. Definition of theft. Doesn’t matter if she’s family or not, you were more than reasonable and she completely abused your generosity. The only thing that makes me sad is that your parents bailed her ass out, she should’ve stayed in jail longer.

FuelledByPurrs −  NTA- She took a car she wasnt legally entitled to. Thats stealing a car. Yeah it was your car and she was your sister but that doesnt change anything. Its was still. a car she wasnt legally entitled to that she took. Theft. Maybe this will teach her responsability!

orangemetal −  A bit different then the consensus but tbh ESH. She is primarily the A**hole, however, the response is way over the top. I feel like it could of been dealt with differently, but to each their own.

Setting boundaries in family relationships can be tough, especially when someone continually oversteps. Did the Redditor go too far by involving the police, or was their response justified? Share your thoughts below!