George Wallis said his Chrysler Neon, parked in North Walsham, had its rear windscreen smashed before the officer involved realised his mistake.
A passer-by had called 999 after becoming worried that a swarm of flies visible in the car hinted at grisly contents, but in fact the bluebottles had hatched from maggots in a bait box four days earlier.
Police subsequently towed the car to Great Yarmouth, but Mr Wallis said he will have to pay for the car to be scrapped as he cannot afford the £150 towing fee or the £20-a-day storage charge.
'The police made my vehicle insecure by breaking into it, they should pay not me,' he told the Daily Telegraph.
'I can't afford to get it back, but I need a vehicle.'
Norfolk constabulary said the car appeared to be abandoned when it was broken into.
'The officer had genuine concerns about what could have been in the vehicle,' the force said.
'If the owner feels they shouldn't pay, they can write to legal services at force headquarters.'
