Car Dealership Thugs

My dad was considering to buy an used 2001 Nissan Maxima back in June. He drove the car around, it seemed good, and liked it. My dad gave the dealership a cashier's check fro $5300 from his bank, and took the car home for one last test drive. There was no contract signed yet, and no transfer of title. At this point, the car was exchanged for the check. Also, the car had no plates.

Then, the car's engine light comes on, and indicated by the code, it needed a brand new catalytic converter. My dad took it back to the dealership, they promised to fix it, and also add the plates (which cost $300 by the way) and my dad left the car. My dad went back to pick up the car, nothing had been fixed, and he left the car again. He demanded his money back. At this point, he had been dealing with the dealership for 2 weeks, already. They said that they would give the money back in a week. The car stays at the dealership. Still no plates on the car either.

One week passes, no money still. The dealership keeps extending their own deadline to pay the money back, and they never come through. It is now 4 months later and still no money, the car is still sitting there at the dealership, being sold again.

A lawyer would cost alot more than what the car's worth, and my dad simply has little time or energy to deal with these people. We are not violent people, and are not going to break any laws in trying to get our money back.

My question is, would simply going down to the police station help? Would this be considered a criminal or civil case? In my eyes, there has been theft, and a law enforcement officer should be able to at least arrest the dealership owner for the theft of $5300. My dad says it's not worth it, because the police will just refer us to a lawyer.

We're drained and upset over all of this...and don't know what to do.