Woman's Car Is Stolen And Returned With Gas Money In An Incredibly Bizarre Story

Have you ever had a car stolen?

I haven't. But my car was hit, while parked in my driveway no less, by a stolen car. Yeah, it was a very unlikely series of events. The guy was drunk, on probation, and carrying weapons. I stupidly chased him down the street but stopped after the 9-1-1 dispatcher suggested quite adamantly that I stop pursuing a potentially dangerous suspect. 

In the end, the cops knew the guy very well and he was arrested — again — and I got paid out by insurance. Nevertheless, it was a stressful couple of weeks and an experience I hope I never have to go through again.

As unlikely as it was to have my car hit while in my own driveway, this story about an Oregon woman's stolen car is even more bizarre. 

Let me explain. 

This is Portland, Oregon resident, Erin Hatzi.

In her hand, she holds a note that was left in her stolen car that we'll get to in a minute.

On October 25, her car was stolen.

On Hatzi's security cameras, she saw a woman get into her red Subaru, sit for a few minutes, and then drive off. Everything about the video was strange. The woman was so calm and not at all in a rush.

"We were really confused because it didn’t seem like the normal actions of a car thief," said Hatzi.

"You wouldn’t think they’d sit there in idle in the owner’s driveway for two or three minutes."

Yeah, it's not often someone commits a crime and waits around to see if they get caught for it. It truly was bizarre. 

Despite being confused by the entire event, Hatzi went and filed a police report hoping to find answers.

Now, I don't know about you, but I am not holding my breath if my car gets stolen. I've never heard of someone with a stolen car getting it back in the condition it was stolen in, which is what makes this story so bizarre.

Well, she didn't have to wait long for an answer.

A couple days later, the police had pulled over the stolen car in front of her house. The woman got out of the red Subaru, but left a note inside the car.

The stolen car happened to be a BIG misunderstanding.

The note begins:

"Hello, So sorry I stole your car,


I sent my friend with my key to pick up my red Subaru at 7802 SE Woodstock and she came back with your car..."

Can you guess where this is going, yet?

"I did not see the car until this morning and I said, 'That is not my car.' There is some cash for gas and I more than apologize for the shock and upset this must have caused you… So so sorry for this mistake.'"

It turns out old Subaru keys can sometimes work in Subaru cars they're not designed for.

Surprisingly, wrong keys not only open the doors, but also turn over the engine. How crazy is that?

We now know that the Subaru the apologetic thief was looking for was parked around the corner, just one block away.

"It’s insane," Hatzi said.

"It’s like a bad sitcom that nobody would ever buy the story because it’s stupid and it makes no sense. But it happened."

As for the thief?

Erin says that everyone parted ways happy...if not a bit embarrassed. 

This begs a question: How many stolen cars are actually recovered?

The US average rate for car theft recovery is 46 percent, writes the Auto Blog.

What's the best/worst state for stolen car recovery?

Best states for recovery:

1. Washington, 71%


2. Utah, 63%
3. South Dakota, 61%


4. Nevada, 61%


5. California, 60%

Worst states for recovery:

1. Michigan, 19%


2. Mississippi, 29%


3. Alabama, 28%


4. Arkansas, 28%


5. Pennsylvania, 26%

Do you have a stolen car story?

Let's see who has the MOST bizarre stolen car story. Share them with us in the comments section of Facebook.